Washington Park Profile 0720

WashParkProfile.com

JULY 2020

FREE

Digital and print community newspaper founded in 1978.

HELPING RESTAURANTS SURVIVE Denver company donates face shields to area eateries

P17

A LOOK AHEAD Denver Public Schools explores leasing Rosedale

P8

A VIRTUAL DASH Jodi’s Race participants benefit Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance

P6

READING, MAKING, EXPLORING Denver Public Library offers Summer of Adventure

P4

CHANGES THROUGH TIME Smith Lake in 1900s hosted swimmers, ice skaters

P12

2 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

Business Matters Christy Steadman | csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Editor’s note: 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-north and south Denver.

Businesses are beginning to reopen after being closed — for some, several months — because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Colorado Community Media urges you to reach out to your favorite local businesses — including commercial and retail, fitness, restaurants and salon services — to find out their reopening status, or to check if they are operating slightly differently upon reopening.

The July Business Matters column is a listing of a few new businesses that have opened and/or had opened as a new business just prior to the pandemic and had to close their doors only after a few weeks of operations.

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

Cherry Creek North A number of retail stores in Cherry Creek North have masks/face coverings available for purchase. Some of the shops are offering free delivery in the Denverarea with the purchase of a certain number of masks, and others are donating a portion of the proceeds to hospitals.

According to a blog post on the Cherry Creek North’s website, the following stores have masks available for sale: Ann Marie Designs, Adornments, Covered Cherry Creek, Denver Darling Boutique, Garbarini, Mariel, NIC + ZOE, Revampt and State & Liberty. The list will be updated if additional shops make masks available.

Some of the shops request that an appointment be made or to contact them to inquire about their masks. To find the contact information for the shops, visit https://cherrycreeknorth.com/ and select the story, Where to Buy Masks in Cherry Creek North, on the website’s homepage.

Choice Market Choice Market, a convenience store that offers high quality fresh foods, is opening a third Denver location in the near future.

It will be located at Colfax Avenue and Gaylord Street near Cheesman Park.

The other two locations are in Uptown at 1770 N. Broadway, and Lincoln Park at 1015 Osage St. Denver.

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

Putting you first made us #1.

Joy Hill Bar & Pizza Joy Hill Bar & Pizza, 1229 S. Broadway, is a new bar, lounge and wood fired pizza restaurant located on the border of Denver’s Platt Park and Overland neighborhoods.

It opened on March 2 and offered takeout orders, according to the Platt Park Post. Joy Hill’s website states that it is now open for in-person dining.

Ruby’s Market Ruby’s Market, 1569 S. Pearl St., was set to open right before the coronavirus hit, and is now operating through an online ordering collective with contactless alleyside pickup.

The market is multi-cultural artisan and food destination.

Its Ruby’s Pantry has also launched, which collects emergency supplies, such as shelf stable food, toiletries and cleaning products, for refugee families.

Sherry’s Soda Shoppe Sherry’s Soda Shoppe reopened on June 12 after being closed during the COVID19 shutdowns.

Sherry’s Soda Shoppe, 2714 Welton St. in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, is an old-fashioned creamery that offers homemade ice cream, milkshakes, sodas and more. The menu features dairy-andvegan homemade, small-batch gourmet ice cream; real phosphates and CBD sodas, malts, sundaes and more, states a news release.

It is a concept by the Bridge & Tunnel Restaurant Group. The Five Points location debuted on March 10, but closed in mid-March because of the coronavirus.

Other Bridge & Tunnel Restaurant Group concepts include Rosenberg’s Bagels and Delicatessen, Famous Original J’s Pizza and Lou’s Italian Specialties.

Tacos El Metate Tacos El Metate opened its second location near the University of Denver.

The taqueria, which boasts a specialty of a fried fish taco, got its start in Aurora in 2017. The new location, 2060 S. University Blvd., opened on June 18, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Sullivan Scrap Kitchen A catering company will soon be opening a brick-and-mortar casual eatery in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood.

Terence Rogers, chef and owner of TBD Foods, will be purchasing an existing kitchen at 1740 E 17th Ave. to host Sullivan Scrap Kitchen. Rogers has a personal passion for reducing food

Making you our #1 priority is what’s made State Farm #1* in auto insurance. I’m here to listen to your needs and to help life go right.

CALL ME TODAY.

Terence Rogers and Holly Adinoff will be opening Sullivan Scrap Kitchen, 1740 E. 17th Ave., as a casual eatery. The vision is to reduce food waste and Rogers will utilize excess food from his catering business, TBD Foods.

COURTESY PHOTO waste, and will utilize excess food from his catering business for Sullivan Scrap Kitchen.

“I knew this was the perfect fit for us as we already had an established catering business, TBD Foods, which is more on the high-end side,” Rogers said in a news release. “Sullivan Scrap Kitchen became our perfect complement to fully utilize our ingredients in a creative and delicious way.”

In Spring 2019, Rogers tested his food waste kitchen idea with a pop-up called

Lil’ Scrap Kitchen in TBD Foods former commissary space. The trial was a success and he decided the repurposed ingredients could make salads, sandwiches, soups, burgers and breads at a standalone café. More recently, Rogers and his business partner and fiancé Holly Adinoff have been experimenting with sourdough — instead of discarding the excess starter, they’ve repurposed it into cinnamon rolls, pizza dough and banana bread.

Sullivan Scrap Kitchen plans to open late June/early July.

®

Full Service Veterinary Care in the Comfort of Your Home Serving metro Denver since 1985 Dr. Sherri Folkestad • DVM

*Based on written premium as reported by SNL Financial 2014.

(Sherri Somerville)

303-904-1989 | www.housecallvetservice.com 1601917

Washington Park Profile 3

July 2020

COVID-19 and the Denver real estate market GUEST COLUMN

Tom Snyder

I

t has certainly been a wild ride for all of us these past months and the Denver real estate market has been no exception.

The year got off to a fast start with property values poised to jump yet again. Then the pandemic hit. March tracked along fairly normal but in April, everything went off the rails and into a coma of sorts as real estate virtually shut down under the stay-athome order. During April and May, the number of closed sales dropped 40% from the same period a year ago. Understandably, the most frequently asked questions became what would happen to the market when things opened up again? Would home values drop, creating opportunities for hopeful buyers in Denver’s ever-tight housing market?

By mid-May, the market officially opened again and the questions — at least for the short-term — received a fairly rapid answer. Sellers brave or desperate enough to venture into the unknown were greeted in most cases with strong, pent-up buyer demand. Homes in traditionally hot neighborhoods had buyers literally lining up to view homes, and multiple offers were the norm. One Washington Park listing had 80 showings in two days and more than a dozen offers, which was remarkable even for that perennially strong location. Although the market lost about six weeks, it was apparent that things had gotten back to some version of normal rather

quickly. Property values during that period remained very stable compared to 2019 values while there was clearly pressure on the market to press values even higher.

What do we make of this and where is the market headed for the rest of the year? First let’s consider underlying factors. During the height of the pandemic, most financial markets were in freefall but such, often has an unlikely silver-lining — interest rates also tend to fall in such times. For the past 10 years, interest rates have bumped along at historic lows but the pandemic pushed those even lower. The most traditional home loan, the 30-year fix mortgage, was suddenly available to most buyers at close to 3%. In home buying parlance, that is practically free money. Home buyers understandably jumped at the chance to secure such attractive terms. Secondly, although the high unemployment has made headlines, the vast majority of the Denver workforce retained their jobs and didn’t drop out of the potential buyer pool — all of which created something of a perfect storm of demand.

Significant questions about the market still remain. What will be the longer-term effects on the Denver market? Sellers to some degree have not greeted the market with as much enthusiasm as buyers. Some would-be sellers have chosen to remain on the sidelines, fearful of the unknown and of course

becoming stranded buyers themselves unable to find replacement homes. Sellers deciding not to sell further constricts the housing market and exacerbates the housing shortage. It is difficult to know when sellers will feel it is safe to venture out again.

So much hinges on the broader economic recovery, and for the moment it seems no one has a clear handle on where that is going to go and how long it is going to take. The National Bureau of Economic Research announced mid-June that we have officially been in a recession since February. It is anybody’s guess how long that will last at this point.

One encouraging bit of history we can look to in all this is perhaps the last recession of 2008-2011. If that recession is any predictor of the present Denver housing market, then likely we will weather the storms quite well. During that period, which was a housing-driven recession with home values plummeting in most parts of the country, Denver actually did quite well. Our housing market slowed but home values didn’t drop significantly and recovered quickly. Likely a hopeful indicator of where things will trend around here.

The coming months will certainly not be dull, stay tuned.

Tom Snyder is the owner and managing broker of Snyder Realty.

Local Focus. More News.

20 newspapers. 20 websites. Connecting YOU to your LOCAL community.

ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

CREATE YOUR BACKYARD ESCAPE. SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE WITH A BELLCO

HOME EQUITY CHOICELINE Apply today at Bellco.org/ChoiceLine Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation.

We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. Membership Eligibility Required. All Loans Subject to Approval.

4 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

Reading, making, exploring with Denver Public Library Youths invited to participate in Summer of Adventure through Aug. 8

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Y

Denver Public Library’s 2020 Summer of Adventure takes place until Aug. 8, with registration closing on July 31. The program includes a variety of learning-based activities that allows youths to read, make and explore.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY

ouths enjoy talking with library staff and their peers about the books they’re reading or what they’re making and creating for the Summer of Adventure program.

This year, because of COVID-19 and social distancing, those conversations may not take place in a library setting, said Michelle Jeske, executive director of the Denver Public Library, but she still expects them to happen.

No matter if they’re occurring with a neighbor, parent/caregiver or sibling, it’s priceless when youths talk with others about their passions, Jeske said.

“Kids, like all people, have a variety of interests,” Jeske said. “The books and activities (part of the Summer of Adventure program) will still provide the opportunity to strike up those conversations.”

Denver Public Library has been putting on some sort of summer reading program for at least 50 years, said Yanira Duarte, program coordinator for Summer of Adventure. Its current form came about in 2006, she said, when the library changed the program to include a variety of activities to engage youth, as well as reading.

This year, the Denver Public Library’s Summer of Adventure program continues with its “reading, making, exploring” concept, and a big part of that is choice, Duarte said.

“Choice is important because all kids can participate and build on various skills,” she SEE LIBRARY, P5

Dr. Stratil and Dr. Wright

Dr. Stratil and Dr. Wright Dr. Stratil and Dr. Wright

We’re STILL making it personal!

We’ rereSTILL personal!

We’ STILL making making ititpersonal!

Its been 6 years, and The Dentists on Pearl still want to get Its been 6years, years, The Dentists stilltoday want toto get to know you! to know you! and So, come on on in Pearl oron call schedule an been and The Dentists want to to get Its Its been 6 6years, and The Dentists onPearl Pearlstill still want get So,appointment come on in orSo, callfor today schedule an appointment for the entire family. theto entire family.

We will create a an plan that know you! come on in or to to know you!

So, come on in or call calltoday todaytotoschedule schedule an We will create a planyou that will you achieve and a completely healthysmile! smile! will help and maintain a completely healthy appointment forachieve thehelp entire family.

Wemaintain will create a plan that appointment for the entire family.

We will create a plan that accept most and accepting new patients!

We accept mostinsurances insurances and areaare accepting new patients! willWe help you achieve and maintain completely healthy smile!

will help you achieve and maintain a completely healthy smile!

We accept most insurances and are accepting new patients!

We accept most insurances and are accepting new patients!

1905 South SOUTHPearl PEARL STREET 1905 Street 1905 SOUTH PEARL STREET 303.498.9207

303.498.9207 1905303.498.9207 SOUTH PEARL STREET thedentistsonpearl.com thedentistsonpearl.com 303.498.9207 thedentistsonpearl.com

Twins have their photo taken during a past year’ Denver Public Library summer programming. This year, the Summer of Adventure program takes place remotely, but still offers youths the opportunity to engage in reading, making and exploring during the summer.

LEARN MORE Denver Public Library’s Summer of Adventure kicked off on June 1 and concludes on Aug. 8.

Registration to participate in the program closes on July 31. Completion prize pickup is available from July 31 to Aug. 31.

The Summer of Adventure program

brochure and Adventure Guide is available online to download or print, or the library can mail it.

To learn more about the Summer of Adventure program, or to register, visit https:// denverlibraryadventures.org/or call the library at 720-865-1111.

Washington Park Profile 5

July 2020

South High one of 25 mini grant recipients School aims to use funding to pay for National Register of Historic Places nomination efforts

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

Doing historic preservation work always requires assistance to ensure that buildings, stories and resources remain available and vital. But doing that work in the midst of a global pandemic is a challenge that most could never have foreseen.

Fortunately for those tackling these kinds of projects in Denver, the surrounding cities and all over the state, the History Colorado State Historical Fund awarded 25 historic preservation grants for the Spring 2020 “mini” grant round on May 1, after an extraquick review process of just 30 days.

“The minis are great for smaller projects and planning phases based on cost. This round was special since we had a quicker review period so we could award the projects before the normal award date,” said Sara

Library FROM PAGE 4

said. In addition, providing options “offers the type of learning they want to do in the summer.”

Some youths love reading, and others prefer to build or create something, Duarte said.

“They still have to use literary skills in some way,” she said, “it’s just integrated differently.”

For example, Duarte said, if a youth is cooking, they will need to read a recipe. Or, if they’re building a robot, they have to read the instructions on how to assemble it.

Summer of Adventure kicked off on June 1 and concludes on Aug. 8. Activities are available for birth through 12th grade, and range from attending a virtual storytime for a pre-schooler to designing a 3D object or baking muffins for elementary-school age children and virtual role-playing games for teens.

The Summer of Adventure program is particularly valuable because some youth can lose up to two months of academic progress when not engaged in learningbased activities during the summer, Jeske said.

“Parents are juggling a lot this year,” Jeske said, including some in a work-from-home

Doll, preservation grants outreach specialist with the state, in an email interview. “This was a step towards wanting to be more efficient as a program and making sure those who we work with have jobs lined up and could continue through the pandemic.”

The mini grant round goes to requests of $35,000 or less, and leverages an additional $316,779 in matching funding provided by grant applicants and their community partners for a total project impact of $935,013, according to provided information.

One of the recipients of these grants is the Denver South High School Alumni and Friends, Inc., group for its National Register of Historic Places nomination efforts. The group received $18,750.

“Denver South High School is a landmark of south Denver, and has stood as a beacon of education for thousands of Denver residents, and their families, since 1926,” said grant applicant Ken Dobrovolny who serves as vice president of the alumni and friends organization. “We think having the designation on the National Register of Historic Places is a fitting reminder of the prominence of South in the community.”

The current building was designed by Fisher and Fisher in 1924 and opened in January of 1926 to help with the growth of the city of Denver and the students in the

environment, for example. “The Summer of Adventure program can help keep kids engaged in productive and fun activities.”

All youths who register and participate in the Summer of Adventure program will receive a free Foldscope, which can be mailed. A Foldscope is a paper microscope “designed to be portable and durable, while performing on par with conventional research microscopes,” states the library’s website.

Participants who complete 15 activities earn a completion prize, which is a free book. Additionally, participants are entered in weekly drawings to win gift cards to local businesses or family passes to local cultural institutions.

Denver Public Library also has a number of activities for adults to participate in this summer, Duarte said. These include activities part of the Summer of Adventure: The Prequel, which was intended to precede the Summer of Adventure but because of its popularity, the library has decided to keep it available; and the Maker Challenge, of which all library locations are participating and continues through Aug. 8.

Though the library’s doors may be physically closed because of COVID-19, the library is still a place for community, Duarte said.

“Here at the library, it’s not just about books,” Duarte said. “It’s about relationships and community.”

southeast quadrant of the city at the time, according to information provided by Dobrovolny. Since then, it has been the home of more than 50,000 graduates.

“I was just totally delighted to have the confidence that we can now continue on and be successful in this journey to becoming a National Historic Place designee for my alma mater, Denver South High School,” Dobrovolny said.

According to Jane Daniels, grant manager for the Alumni and Friends group, the application process was very involved and required a lot of coordination with the proposed project team members, including the applicant, the property owner, the consultant and the State Historic Fund. The whole process took about four months of working, researching, writing and draft revisions.

“The funds … will go towards the research, fieldwork and writing of the National Register nomination by Corbett AHS, Inc., and for her to present this information to the State Review Board for approval and forwarding on to the Keeper of the National Register,” Daniels said. “This project was also developed with the intent to involve the high school students as much as possible in the research and fieldwork phase, and we are hopeful that this still can be achieved in some capacity.”

Some of the things students will need to consider as part of the process, according to consultant Kathy Corbett, include questions such as how do the daily lives of South’s past students compare with their own? And they will also be asked to research who created the school and turned it into the community landmark it is.

The State Historical Fund has kept busy during the pandemic, maintaining its year-round technical guidance offerings and keeping its various departments — including museums, preservation services, archaeology and community engagement — working. It has also been distributing $1,124,625.72 to ongoing grant projects throughout Colorado between March 20 and April 20.

“We notice that it is especially important to have the capability to provide funds during recessions and times of uncertainty. Our projects continued through the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and they have continued during COVID-19,” wrote Anne McCleave, Historic Preservation Specialist manager, in an email interview. “We hope we provide a little stability and sense of security for those working on our projects, while at the same time preserving significant historic resources for all of Colorado’s residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Because you want to know...

What’s going on in my hometown?

From special events to local politics, We’ve got you covered.

Local News , it makes a difference.

Denver’s Best Thai Restaurant Westword 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020

Featuring the Cuisine of Our Northern Thai Homeland Family Owned and Operated Since 1994

From Our Garden To Your Plate DENVER’S PREMIER INSTALLER OF VINYL, WOOD, AND FIBERGLASS REPLACEMENT WINDOWS! Over 30 Years’ Experience EPA Lead Safe Firm • Honest Pricing

Call us for a free, no-hassle consultation

720-295-0362 windowdoctorofcolorado.com

Take out and Curbside Service. Clean and Safe.

Enjoy our backyard in your backyard.

“Vibrant salads, all with the fresh flavors of Farrell’s kitchen garden” - Mark Antonation, Westword

Call 303-762-9112 or ORDER ONLINE at tasteofthailand.net

6 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

R b A

Team Sue gathers for a group photo during a previous year’s Jodi’s Race, a fundraiser for the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA), which took place virtually this year because of COVID-19. Sue Hester is an ovarian cancer survivor and president of the COCA board.

COURTESY PHOTOS

A rare but deadly disease Ovarian cancer survivors talk the importance of awareness

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

O

varian cancer survivors urge any woman who feels that something is not quite right to “pursue, pursue, pursue” and request that the doctor does enough tests to rule out the possibility of ovarian cancer.

“Ovarian cancer is rare, but deadly,” said Sue Hester, an ovarian cancer survivor and president of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA) board. “It is so scary to be diagnosed with this.”

Hester, a resident of Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood, was diagnosed in January 2010 with stage 3c ovarian cancer. She was 62 — the average age of diagnosis, though it also known that any woman of any age can get ovarian cancer, states COCA’s website.

At the time of her diagnosis, Hester had a 40% survival rate. Since then, she has undergone surgeries and 18 rounds of chemo, and has survived a couple of recurrences.

Hester is now cancer-free, she said, but still gets monitored every three months.

“I don’t think I’ll ever feel completely cured of it,” Hester said.

As its name indicates, ovarian cancer is a growth of abnormal malignant cells that begins in the ovaries.

A woman’s annual gynecological exam does not check for ovarian cancer, the COCA website states. Though there is no diagnostic tool, in 2007, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance “endorsed a consensus statement on ovarian cancer symptoms” and 95%

Karen Carter is an ovarian cancer survivor and has run in every Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance’s annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness since the race began in 2010. The event was virtual this year, but Carter and her husband John decided to still run at City Park in Denver on June 13, which is when and where the race would have taken place if COVID-19 were not a factor. of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer reported having had one or more of the most common four. They are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, urinary urgency or frequency and difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.

Still, these symptoms are also associated with nonlethal conditions, states COCA, such as irritable bowel syndrome, a common disorder that affects the large intestine.

The way ovarian cancer is ruled out — or definitively diagnosed — is through a trans-vaginal ultrasound, pelvic/rectal exam and CA125 blood test, COCA states.

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you can feel isolated and frightened,” said Jeanene Smith, 63, of Denver’s Wellshire neighborhood. “This carries through to caregivers and loved ones — there is no instruction manual. But meeting others helps you realize you’re SEE SURVIVORS, P7

Jeanene Smith is the race director for the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance’s annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness. The annual race is the biggest fundraiser for the organization.

LEARN MORE The Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA), a nonprofit organization, has a variety of resources and programs for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer and their caregivers/loved ones.

Washington Park Profile 7

July 2020

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you can feel isolated and frightened.

This carries through to caregivers and loved ones — there is no instruction manual. But meeting others helps you realize you’re not alone.”

— Jeanene Smith, Runners gather at Denver’s City Park for Jodi’s Race for Awareness in a previous year. This year, the event took place virtually because the survivors are at high risk for COVID-19. Jodi’s Race is the largest annual fundraiser for the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance.

COURTESY PHOTOS

SURVIVORS FROM PAGE 8

not alone.”

Smith is a 21-year ovarian cancer survivor and has served as the race director for COCA’s annual Jodi’s Race for Awareness for the past four years.

As the largest fundraiser for COCA, a nonprofit, a typical Jodi’s Race at Denver’s City Park will have a turnout of at least 3,000 people, Smith said. It includes a variety of activities such as a breakfast, music, a family fun zone, an expo and, of course, the race which is offered as a 5K or one-mile loop around the park’s lake.

This year, it took place virtually on June 13. Cancer survivors are at high risk for COVID-19.

By June 10, more than 1,100 people had registered for the virtual event. Participants received a Virtual Dash package — along with many other goodies, everyone got a branded Jodi’s Race T-shirt, remembrance participants got forget-menot seeds to plant to memorialize a loved one lost to ovarian cancer, and survivors got a strand of teal beads for every year since their diagnosis.

Jodi’s Race got its start in June 2010, and since, has become a time to bring awareness to ovarian cancer, raise funds for COCA’s various programs and for both memorializing loved ones and celebrating survivors, Smith said.

“We wanted to provide that Jodi’s Race experience at home, with love, since we can’t all be together,” Smith said.

A live-stream watch party took place in the morning, and some participants, such as Karen Carter of Denver’s Cheesman Park neighborhood, did their own form of a race in replace of the in-person gathering.

Carter, 64, has always been a runner and started participating in triathlons in 1999. She was diagnosed with stage 2c ovarian cancer in 2009 and has run in every Jodi’s Race.

Carter is also involved with COCA’s Carol’s Wish Financial Navigation Program.

There are women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who face financial difficulties for treatment in part because of being under-insured or not insured at all, Carter said.

“Our goal is that nobody foregoes treatment because of financial reasons,” she added.

Not to be confused with the COCA Cares program — which provides a grant to women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who are living at the poverty level to help with living expenses — Carol’s Wish is a program for which women diagnosed with ovarian cancer meet with advocates to review “current medical coverage and clinical treatment plan and, if needed, work together to create a new, personalized strategy to minimize your financial burden going forward,” states the Carol’s Wish website.

“This is probably the most meaningful work I’ve ever done,” Carter said. “Truly, my big reward is helping these ladies through the journey that I faced 11 years ago.”

It is life-saving work, Carter added.

“I don’t know of anything more rewarding than that.”

Sue Hester, an ovarian cancer survivor and president of the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance (COCA) board, carries a Team Sue sign during a previous year’s Jodi’s Race. The race is the organization’s biggest annual fundraiser, and because of COVID-19 took place virtually this year.

DID YOU KNOW...

Source: Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance

8 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

Future still uncertain for Rosedale school Denver Public Schools exploring idea to lease shuttered school to third party

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

When she was in elementary school in the early 1960s, Jo Peters learned to fold a flag properly.

She was one of eight in the color guard at Rosedale Elementary School, and remembers raising the flag every morning and taking it down every afternoon.

“Denver was a wonderful place to grow up,” said Peters, now an Englewood resident.

“I would love to see the (Rosedale) school preserved, for its historical value.”

The fate of Rosedale Elementary, 2330 S.

Sherman St., is still undetermined. But Denver Public Schools has decided to explore the possibility of leasing it to a third party.

DPS entertained a number of community meetings in the earlier part of the year, during which the school district asked the community to weigh in on a variety of options regarding the site’s future — reopening it as a public school, leasing the property, leaving the property in its current state or selling it.

The community was “loud about its desire” for DPS to retain ownership, said Scott Baldermann District 1 representative on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education.

Based on review of a report that included the community’s input, on April 20, the Board of Education decided that the “best initial course of action” is to retain ownership, and lease it to a third party for a non-DPS purpose, DPS spokeswoman Winna Maclaren said in an email.

SEE ROSEDALE, P9

Jo Peters points to herself, seventh on the right in the first row, in an early-1960s class photo of Jane Dobson’s students. Peters brought the picture to a February 2020 tour of Rosedale Elementary School offered by Denver Public Schools. Of the approximate 20 tour attendees, Peters was the only one who had attended Rosedale.

Rosedale Elementary, 2330 S. Sherman St. in Denver, was built in 1924 and served kindergarten through fifth-grade students until it closed in 2005.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Argonaut Has It! Family Owned for Over 50 Years

Denver’s Largest Selection of Cold Beer.

Caring for our community by

Over 15,000 Items to chose from • 40,000 Sq. Feet of Fun

We Deliver!

760 EAST COLFAX • 303-831-7788 Mon-Thur 8 am - 11 pm • Fri & Sat 8 am - 11:45 pm • Sunday 8 am - 10 pm

SHOP ONLINE AT WWW.ARGONAUTLIQUOR.COM

Follow Us

using sustainable

printing practices *See our website for details

ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Washington Park Profile 9

July 2020

Rosedale FROM PAGE 8

DPS then created a task force of nine members who, in partnership with DPS, will help generate a request for proposals for any potential future tenants of the Rosedale school, Baldermann said. The task force consists of representatives from the Rosedale/Harvard Gulch Neighborhood Association, area residents and parents of children who attend nearby schools.

The task force will help decide what kind of uses would be allowed, and the method for which possible tenants will be decided upon in the chance that DPS gets multiple interested parties, Maclaren said. The task force will also be responsible for making a recommendation on its desired tenant to the Board of Education, Maclaren said.

Baldermann said he hopes the task force comes up with some creative ideas for a future tenant, adding that there could be possibilities for shared, community uses.

But most importantly, Baldermann said, is that he “wants the community to be proud and happy with the end result.”

The Rosedale school has been vacant since its closure in 2005. DPS cites low enrollment as the cause — Rosedale could accommodate 300 students in 2005, but that year, only 134 students were enrolled according to district records.

Conversations about the future of the school heightened early this year after the community learned that DPS received a letter from the Archdiocese of Denver proposing to purchase the school, renovate the building and reopen it as a private high school for about 400 students.

That proposal has since been put on hold, Baldermann said.

Some community members didn’t feel a private school was the right fit for Rosedale, and additionally don’t fully support DPS’ decision to possibly lease it to a third party.

“If it’s not a (public) school, it will not hold as much value to the community,” said Daniel McAllister, an educator at Skinner Middle School who is part of a Facebook group called Save Rosedale Elementary School. “Before it closed, everyone’s kids from the Rosedale neighborhood went to that school.”

Sometimes referred to as Reopen Rosedale, the Save Rosedale Elementary School group started about a year ago to advocate for Rosedale’s future use as a public, neighborhood school.

If Rosedale is leased to a third party, McAllister added, “we won’t know who is supporting the community and its students.”

McAllister is a DPS graduate and said he’s had a longtime interest in Rosedale because of its historical value. There are even rumors that a time capsule is buried under one of the stone planters in the front of the school, McAllister said.

Rosedale Elementary opened in 1924. Its architecture is Victorian Gothic style.

McAllister is also part of an effort to get city landmark status for the school which, accord-

The halls of Rosedale Elementary, 2330 S. Sherman St. in Denver, have been empty since 2005. Some neighbors of the school are advocating for it to reopen as a public school to serve the neighborhood’s children.

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK GROUP DPS REOPEN ROSEDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

ing to the city’s website, would make it subject to local design and demolition reviews. Basically, it could keep it from being torn down, McAllister said. This effort will continue, he said, adding that DPS has already given its approval to pursue the landmarking process for Rosedale.

The Rosedale school building has two stories and is about 41,000 square-feet. The building itself needs a lot of updating, said Mark Ferrandino, the school district’s deputy superintendent of operations, in a previous interview. Needed updates include electrical work, fire safety, installing an HVAC system, ADA, etc. According to DPS public documents, the latest estimate is that renovations could cost nearly $16 million.

DPS would be responsible for those renovations, which further complicates the matter.

The method and finding those funds are still to be determined, Baldermann said. The board of education typically asks voters to vote on a bond every four years, which falls on this November, Baldermann said. The board has until August to decide if a bond will go on the November ballot, and if so, it is possible that Rosedale renovations could be part of that, Baldermann said.

But no matter if Rosedale is part of a bond or not, if funding doesn’t come, the district may have to re-think its exploration of leasing it to a third party, Baldermann said. And if funding does become secured for Rosedale, it could still be a multi-year process before a tenant occupies it, Baldermann added.

Amy Duclos, chair of the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation’s education committee, argues against the idea to lease Rosedale to a third party with two main points.

First, a third party’s lease term would have to be limited to 10 years, Duclos said. According to INC’s findings, she added, state statute

provides only a lease term of 10 years for a public asset.

Duclos’ second argument involves enrollment and accommodating students. There is no way of accurately predicting exactly what the district will need in the future, or even next year, she said. And this is partly because of the coronavirus pandemic, Duclos added.

“No one saw COVID coming,” she said. “But we owe it to our teachers and students to be able to adhere to social distancing.”

Duclos also believes that leasing Rosedale to a third party is simply not what the community wants.

According to a survey conducted by students at the University of Colorado-Denver, Duclos said, 69% of the 224 survey respondents want it to serve a DPS purpose.

“It’s a bit concerning they’re (DPS) not listening to the community,” Duclos said.

“Schools serve as a center for activity and energy of a neighborhood. Rosedale doesn’t have that right now.”

DPS has many options to serve the community by utilizing Rosedale as a district-run public asset, Duclos said. For example, closing the gap on the demand for early childhood education, she said. Or, Duclos added, the Overland neighborhood, which is only blocks away, across Broadway from Rosedale, is a childcare desert.

“To take a public asset out of the community seems risky,” Duclos said. “I don’t think now is the time (for the district) to go into debt in order to lease it for a non-DPS use.”

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.

10 Washington Park Profile

W

FROM THE EDITOR

Christy Steadman

July 2020

LOCAL

VOICES

Fun foods of July up to host their employees again, not everybody works in an office setting. But everybody’s got to eat, so I have decided to focus on the fun foods of July.

It kicks off with Deep Fried Clams Day on July 1 and concludes with Avocado Day on July 31. In between there’s French Fries Day on July 13 and probably my personal favorite, Cheesecake Day on July 30.

If you like chicken, then July is the month for you. July 6 is Fried Chicken Day, International Chicken Wing Day is July 29 and July 30 is Chicken and Waffles Day. Not sure if the latter are meant to be eaten together, but perhaps the month’s oddest pairing is strawberry rhubarb wine and caviar, both which have their day on July 18.

The kids will enjoy Macaroni and Cheese Day on July 14, and adults of age for legal alcohol consumption has an excuse to drink a couple of piña coladas on July 10.

Those with a sweet tooth should not fear that July has nothing for them. Enjoy gummy worms

hen most Americans think of July holidays, it is the Fourth of July that comes to mind.

But there are actually quite a few unofficial holidays and fun theme days in the month. They range from Cheer Up the Lonely Day on July 11 to Shark Awareness Day on July 14. Others are quite unusual, such as Take Your Houseplant For a Walk Day. I’m not sure who would take a houseplant for a walk, but just in case you feel that your fern needs a little extra sunshine and fresh air, July 27 is the day take it for a walk.

Michael Kerr is an international business trainer. On his website titled Humor At Work, www.

HumoratWork.com, he provides a list of some of the “fun, wacky, offbeat, unusual” and strange holidays and theme days that can be celebrated each month.

“Recognizing these theme days is a very simple way to bring a little fun and humor into your workplace and create some rituals and traditions to help strengthen your workplace culture,” states the website.

Though some companies are beginning to open

SEE EDITOR, P11

My office’s candy bowl has been restocked to welcome us back to the workplace. July 7 and July 28 are the two fun theme days this month that celebrate chocolate.

CHRISTY STEADMAN

A right that all citizens of the U.S. are entitled to

T

Farmers markets are opening, but taking precautions – such as restricting the number of customers allowed to shop at any one time and controlling the flow of traffic — in their operations. Pictured is Golden Acre Farm selling produce at the South Pearl Street Farmers Market on a Saturday in June.

COURTESY OF BRIEN DARBY

Exploring Denver’s farmers markets

I

f you have spent your time in Colorado living in Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, or a similar urban area, you may not know that our state is one of the top producers of both commodity and specialty crops in the United GUEST States.

Locally and throughout the nation, COLUMN we are known for our chilis, melons, Brien Darby potatoes, orchard crops and beef.

A publication of

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or visit www.washparkprofile.com/subscribe

And this is to say nothing of the commodities, such as wheat, sugar beets and sorghum, that are used as ingredients in other foods we purchase at the grocery store.

While Denver is not an area known for agricultural production, the city is located within 50 miles of most of the top-producing counties in SEE MARKETS, P11

he Black American West Museum & Heritage Center acknowledges the long history of injustice, immorality and police brutality that has taken place in this nation for over 400 years.

From George Floyd to Breonna Taylor to Ahmaud Arbury and a litany of others. We have seen the eroding of GUEST COLUMN civil respect toward Black lives.

Throughout our bloody history, there has The board of been a desire to be recognized as first-class citizens in this country. This recognition is not a directors, advisory but a right that all citizens of the United board and volunteers dream States of America are entitled. Freedom from of the Black oppression is the ability to say, “I can breathe, I can live my life as I want it to be, I am not afraid American West when I am stopped by police that my life is in Museum & Heritage danger.”

The Black American West Museum & HeriCenter tage Center stands in support with the protestors and the community to fight against racial injustice, which goes against the core values held by the Black American West Museum.

Racial inequality, social injustice, and the lack of equity, access and inclusion for African Americans has been the norm for America for centuries. This is not political, but a cultural disease that must be addressed in all aspects of our society.

From the outcries heard from the protestors, silence is no longer an option. Our voices must be heard as we march toward the eradication of racism in these United States of America.

The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center’s volunteers, board members and advisory board stand in support of the movement, and are committed to social justice initiatives through its “storytelling” of the contributions made by African Americans, leveraging the power of African Americans’ history and culture for action and change. We support all the individuals who are fighting for the rights of African Americans in the United States and around the World.

The Black American West Museum & Heritage Center is a volunteerrun organization located at 3091 California St. in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Learn more at https://www.bawmhc.org/.

JERRY HEALEY President

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CHRISTY STEADMAN Editor

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager

csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Email letters to csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager

Deadline 5 p.m. on the 20th of each month for the following month’s paper.

lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Profile.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Washington Park Profile 11

July 2020

‘Representing you as we show up, speak up and step up’ GUEST COLUMN

Councilmember Amanda Sawyer

S

ummer has arrived in Denver, but it certainly doesn’t feel like any other summer I’ve ever experienced. As recent events stretch us in ways both big and small, I express my deep appreciation to the entire community for the incredible way you’ve come together to weather the storm over the past months.

Thank you for your patience, and for doing your best to stay positive during this incredibly tough year.

As I write this in early June, our city is responding to two big challenges: first, the COVID-19 pandemic and second, the race and social justice protests in downtown Denver resulting from the police killings of black citizens throughout our country.

In facing COVID-19, our office has been working hard to bring our local community financial resources in these ways: By purchasing food from local District 5 restaurants and delivering it to the workers at District 5’s own Rose Medical Center, we are supporting our local businesses and saying thank you to our hard-working frontline workers. Huge thanks to the restaurants who partnered with us on this effort — Santiago’s on Leetsdale, 7 Leguas at Colfax and Cherry, Ranch House at Colfax and Syracuse, Anthony’s on Colorado Boulevard and Walter’s 303 in the Lowry Town Center.

We’ve donated to several community relief efforts, including the Lowry Coronavirus Support Group, the #KeepLowryStrong COVID-19 Economic Relief Fund and the East Colfax Small Business Relief Fund, putting your hard-earned

Editor FROM PAGE 10

on July 15 and lollipops on July 20. Choc-olate lovers can get their fill of that sweet treat on July 7 and July 28. Go out for ice cream on July 19, but if that is something dyou cannot wait for, celebrate Make Your Own Sundae Day on July 11.

Speaking of July 11, I would be remiss if I did not mention another wildly popular day in July — Free Slurpee Day. Taking place annually on July 11, or, 7-11, this is the day that you get to go into any 7-Eleven and get a free Slurpee in honor of the convenience store’s birthday.

Markets FROM PAGE 10

Colorado. As a result, our farmers markets are stocked with the best agricultural products the state has to offer.

Each day of the week, there are multiple markets and farm stands to choose from, just in the Denver metro area. Both the Colorado Department of Agriculture and ,the Colorado Farmers Market Association publish lists on their websites with market times and locations for the state.

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, these organizations have also worked closely with market managers to make them as safe as possible for vendors and customers. In addition to the standard requirement to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently, each market is restricting the number of customers allowed to shop at any one time and controlling the flow of traffic within the market.

In a recent visit to the Pearl Street Market — open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — I noted four separate entrances to the market, which were each monitored by volunteers allowing customers in as others exited. Once inside, taped arrows on the pavement directed traffic.

While I missed the free samples, vendors were more than happy to allow customers to select the desired bundle of

tax dollars immediately back to work in our own backyard.

I created www.WeAreOpenDenver.com to help support our small businesses as they begin to reopen. If your local business is open and operating, please register on the site so residents can find you on the map, which allows users to locate local businesses near them. Local business owners are our friends and neighbors, and it has never been more important to shop local to support our entire community.

Regarding the protests, as an elected official, I always seek to ask, “How can I share this power with my constituents?” and “How can I serve you?” The answer to those questions, right now, is to give councilmembers and other elected officials and community leaders of color the space for their voices to be heard above the rest, while working in partnership to bring transparency and accountability back to our government.

Specifically, my staff and I are working in these ways: As a member of the Denver City Council Safety Committee, I look forward to the upcoming conversations around safety and the First Amendment issues that have arisen during these protests.

It is our job to take a deep dive into the policies and procedures used by the Denver Police Department to determine where improvements can be made.

I am working to bring balance and accountability to Denver’s strong mayor form of government through a proposed charter change amendment that would give city council approval

This year, however, it will happen a bit differently. USA TODAY reported in mid-June that 7-Eleven is cancelling its in-store celebration of Free Slurpee Day to help with social distancing measures in place because of the coronavirus.

Instead, 7-Eleven is offering its 7Rewards loyalty program members a coupon for a free medium Slurpee, USA TODAY reported.

Though you have to sign up to become a member of the 7Rewards loyalty program, there is an upside to this: The free Slurpee coupon is redeemable at anytime in July, so you won’t have to wait among all the others seeking a free Slurpee to get your fix of that sweet, frozen beverage on a hot summer’s day.

carrots or basket of peas that would then be bagged by the vendor. Some vendors offered preorder options allowing customers to reduce the amount of time in the market.

My family and I only had to wait five minutes to enter and we were able to reconnect with all our favorite farmers and vendors from past seasons. Be sure to check the market’s website before attending for social distancing requirements that will be unique to each space.

Payment at farmers markets varies widely. Some locations use “market bucks,” which are purchased prior to entering the market and are accepted by all vendors. At other markets, individual vendors accept payment directly, usually through card or cash, but it is increasingly common to see payment platforms like Venmo and PayPal being accepted.

If you are a customer who qualifies for Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, many markets accept EBT cards. Most markets that accept EBT cards also participate in Double Up Food Bucks, a program that provides extra incentives and price breaks for SNAP users.

Regardless of your payment method, Colorado farmers need our support now.

Shop local and reap the rewards!

Brien Darby is the manager of the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Urban Food Programs

of the mayor’s cabinet members, which includes the manager of safety and Denver’s three safety department heads — chief of police, fire chief and sheriff.

Every day of the protests, I’ve engaged with constituents and the Denver Police Department, calling for de-escalation and questioning the city’s use of force. I’ve also spoken with the press regarding my concerns about the use of tear gas and called for an investigation by the Office of the Independent Monitor into potential constitutional infringements by the Denver Police Department.

As I’ve joined with Denverites asserting our constitutional right to protest and worked sideby-side with volunteers cleaning up the aftermath, my heart has filled with hope that these tough conversations will move us toward a better future as a city. I’m honored to be here in this time, representing you as we show up, speak up and step up. I hope each of you will ask “How can I help?” in the coming days. And please, use your voice to vote in the upcoming elections. We wish you and your families health and safety. Together we will get through this.

Councilmember Amanda Sawyer represents Denver District 5. Her office can be reached at 720-3375555 or denvercouncil5@denvergov.org. To stay upto-date on District 5’s work, sign up for its monthly newsletter and updates at bit.ly/Council5News; or keep up with all that is currently happening by connecting on social media at instagram.com/ denvercouncil5, twitter.com/denvercouncil5, and facebook.com/DenverCouncil5.

“Learn How To Put An End To Knee Pain…

Even If It’s Been Years Of Misery…

All From The Comfort of Your Living Room”

By Leading Denver Physical Therapist, Dr. Brooke Olsen, DPT, Co-Owner of The Physio Revolution

Denver - If you or a loved one are suffering from knee pain, so bad that it can even stop you from walking - then reading this report may be the most important thing you do this year.

It can unlock the mystery of why your knee pain happened in the first place and even show you a way to get back to the activities you once did before knee pain took place:

to actually get to the bottom of knee pain without having to visit the doctor, search on Google endlessly, or get “quick fixes” of pain pills that ruin your gut.

This Free Report, entitled “How To Stop Annoying Knee Pain” reveals the leading cause of knee pain that is overlooked by 95% of doctors and even shows how you can get to the bottom of knee pain quickly and naturally for FREE… and without surgery or MRI’s!

• A life where you can stop taking pills to just “get through a day”.

• A life where you can go on your normal, daily walks with your loved ones without having to stop early and go back.

• A life where you can go up and down stairs or go on a hike without having to go one step at a time or worried you may fall.

• A life where you can be active and enjoy all the things you see so many others doing and enjoying - while not being sidelined.

Finally, Denver’s leading Specialist, Dr. Brooke Olsen, DPT - helping 100’s of people over the past five years with knee pain recovery advice has recently released a her free report that reveals the best key secret in Denver - How

Request your 100% Free Copy to be sent to you by calling (720)-772-1133, you can leave a message 24 hrs. No one will ask you for money when you call. Or, if you want the report right now, please visit: www.ThePhysioRevolution.com/ Knee-Pain and download it instantly today.

PS. Just 3 Free Copies left of this valuable report (worth $29.99), so please call now to get yours. (720)772-1133

12 Washington Park Profile

From

July 2020

swan dives to figure eights

The Dos Chappell Boathouse on Smith Lake at Washington Park was once a place where people could warm up after spending time ice skating on the lake. Today, it is the headquarters for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, a nonprofit that tends to the state’s natural resources.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM COLLINS

To make sure lead stays out of your water, we’re starting with your pipes.

Denver Water is committed to delivering safe water to our community.

So, we’re replacing customers’ lead pipes, one impacted property at a time. To find out if you’re one of them, visit our website.

Learn more at DenverWater.org/Lead

Smith Lake in the 1900s was a year-round urban resort

By Kirsten Dahl Collins Special to Colorado Community Media

A

s summer grips the city and Denverites bemoan our regrettable lack of ocean, we might do well to remember that Washington Park once had its very own beach.

In the summer of 1911, Smith Lake, located near the northern end of the park, inaugurated its new swimming area — complete with sand, a diving platform and an elegant bathhouse. Two hundred enthusiastic bathers showed up on the lake’s north shore for opening day. Everything was free, including soap, showers and extremely modest turn-of-the-century swimsuits.

This was the era of corsets, big hats and propriety, so ladies donned knee-length shirts with capped sleeves before taking the plunge. And one can safely assume that none of the men wore speedos. A line of rope modestly divided the male and female swimming areas.

All this seems remarkable considering that before 1867, this 18-acre lake did not exist. Beginning in 1860, local entrepreneur John W. Smith took on the job of building a 26SEE SMITH LAKE, P13

Washington Park Profile 13

July 2020

Smith Lake FROM PAGE 12

mile irrigation canal from the South Platte River into the dry, treeless scrublands of what is now central Denver. More than four decades later, Denver residents were paddling rowboats and executing swan dives in the same place.

Smith put his new lake to work as a reservoir and source of ice for Denver’s cocktails, ice cream churns and ice boxes. Nowadays, the 10-foot-deep lake develops only thin, patchy ice in the winter. But long-time Denverites remember when Smith Lake regularly froze solid, attracting hordes of ice skaters.

In the late decades of the 19th century, Smith Lake acquired a scandalous reputation. According to the Washington Park East Neighborhood Association (WPENA) website, “by the 1890s, the lake was considered somewhat of a nuisance as it attracted `young men who insisted on showing their anatomy in the waters.’” The Denver Republican reported that so many boys were utilizing the lake in this manner that “ladies refuse to go on the elegant and beautiful drive in that vicinity.”

Despite the skinny-dipping, residents of south Denver began to envision Smith Lake as the centerpiece of a new park. The city began acquiring nearby land and eventually bought the lake from Smith in the early 1900s. The newly-assembled Washington Park opened in 1903 as part of the City Beautiful movement, which originated with architects and urban planners in Chicago. Elegant European-style fountains, pavilions and gardens sprang up in cities across the U.S. and during this era, some notable architecture was also erected at Smith Lake. Frederick Ameter and James B. Hyder designed the Dos Chappell bathhouse, completed in 1912 and is now a state landmark.

On the south shore, architect Jacques Benedict — who went on to design other flamboyant landmarks like the Sports Castle at 1000 Broadway — created a striking boathouse. Now also a beloved Wash Park landmark, the 1913 building resembles an early 20th century take on a Greek temple.

According to WPENA’s account, the lower level originally sheltered boats and a ticket office for boat rentals, and also doubled as warming hut for skaters. The open-air pavilion on the upper level was intended for picnics and other public gatherings of up to 500 people, reflecting the public-spirited zeitgeist of the City Beautiful movement.

These days, the Smith Lake boathouse is especially memorable when it lights up in the evening, its white columns glimmering over the water. In normal, non-pandemic times, the city rents out the pavilion level for weddings and other parties. Passersby often hear distant strains of music as guests dance the night away.

During its nearly 50-year life span, the Smith Lake beach was wildly popular, serving thousands of water-starved Denverites every summer. Admission was free but as the Denver Library’s history site puts it, “… not everyone was not free to use it.”

Overt racism was rampant in turn-of-the century America, reflected in Jim Crow laws and the 1908 “Gentleman’s Agreement,” which severely limited immigration from Asian countries. In 1913, Japanese-Americans were banned outright from swimming at Smith Lake. About 10 years later, in the mid-1920s, the Ku Klux Klan sprang back to life and began sponsoring car races and family picnics in Denver. By the early 1930s, Denver’s KKK leaders had been discredited, but racism was still alive in the city.

On Aug. 17, 1932, 150 African-Americans bravely attempted to swim at Smith Lake beach in an organized protest against de facto segregation. White swimmers attacked them with sticks and stones, but instead of arresting the attackers, police arrested some of the protestors.

Was Smith Beach ever integrated? It is difficult to know. The beach closed for swimming before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in public places. And well before the 1960s, the lake was suffering from age. Urban lakes are delicate organisms, vulnerable to pollution, algae blooms and accumulating sediment. By the mid-1950s, lifeguards at Smith Lake beach could barely see a foot beneath the surface. The beach finally closed in 1957 amid the polio scare.

By the early 1980s, the once-elegant bathhouse had also fallen into disrepair and was being used as maintenance shed. Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) — a nonprofit that tends to the state’s natural resources — and the organization’s then-executive director Dos Chappell, a Washington Park resident, led a fundraising campaign to restore the building. Completed in 1996, the renovated bathhouse now bears Chappell’s name and serves as headquarters for VOC. The old locker rooms are gone and the bathhouse no longer gives way onto a sandy beach. But the handsome twin fireplaces remain — a reminder of the days when skaters warmed their toes in the lobby and Smith Lake served as an urban resort all year round.

Local Focus.

More News.

20 newspapers.

20 websites.

Connecting YOU to your LOCAL community.

Gone fishing Dillan Tressler, 18, holds up a largemouth bass, approximately two pounds, that he caught while fishing at Washington Park in early June.

Staying at a shortterm rental in the Washington Park neighborhood, Tressler of Arizona caught the fish during his first trip to Colorado.

He and his family spent about a week exploring the state, as Tressler is moving to the Denver area in August to study welding at the Lincoln College of Technology.

Though Tressler has been fishing his whole life, he said his catch at Washington Park is one of his personal bests, adding it’s likely the biggest bass he’s ever caught. “Fishing is peaceful,” Tressler said. And a good hobby because “you don’t have to be perfect at it.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Discover

Locally-owned boutiques are not extinct!

• Unique Gifts • Tribal & Cut Loose Clothing • Jewelry • Cosmetics • Gifts for Baby • Luxury Bath Products • Large Selection of Greeting Cards

ERICA’S IS OPEN! Or call ahead for Private Shopping!

CALL FIRST for hours, they vary.

We have “Baby Foot” Peel!

We also carry Self-Care Gifts, Skin Care, Baby & Some Snarky Greeting Cards!

Just minutes away | Easy Parking | We gift wrap

303-566-4100 ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

3490 S. Sherman St. • 303-762-0266 (2 BLOCKS WEST OF SWEDISH HOSPITAL)

ericasboutiqueandskincare.com PLEASE CALL FOR HOURS 303-762-0266 or 303-588-3008 cell

Check us out on Instagram: ericasboutique_colorado

14 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

Business owners want better pedestrian experience

By Christy Steadman

csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

A

ccording to a couple of the small business owners on 13th Avenue, the stretch of sidewalk between Pearl and Washington streets is like a danger zone.

One, there is a lot of speeding on 13th Avenue, they said. The street consists of one parking lane on the north side and three lanes of westbound one-way traffic. Two, the storefronts on the south side face a three-foothigh concrete wall. And lastly, the sidewalk between the wall and the storefronts is only five feet wide.

“We, and our customers, cannot socially distance on our sidewalk,” said Pete Stidman, who manages the record store and is the son of one of Wax Trax Records’ co-owners. “This is a public health issue.”

Wax Trax Records Denver, 638 E. 13th Ave. in Capitol Hill, opened in 1978. Local co-owners Dave Stidman and Duane Davis are both in their 70s.

They “are forced to use this narrow sidewalk daily,” Pete Stidman said.

Wax Trax closed on March 16 because of COVID-19, and in early May launched a website for the first time to serve customers during the pandemic.

The record store re-opened for inperson shopping on June 4. Stidman feels they are doing everything they can to keep customers and employees safe — browsing time is limited, only a certain number of people are allowed in at one time, everyone gets a temperature check, hand sanitizer must be applied before entering and face coverings are a requirement for all customers and employees.

But the five-foot-wide sidewalk must also be addressed, Stidman said.

To generate awareness of the issue,

C m o 3 1

Wax Trax Records Denver, 638 E. 13th Ave. in Capitol Hill, has launched a petition with hopes of making the block between Pearl and Washington streets more pedestrian friendly. The petition can be found on the record store’s new website: www.waxtraxrecords.com.

with hopes of getting the attention of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Wax Trax has launched a petition on its website.

Titled Safer 13th Avenue — 5 Feet is not 6, Wax Trax urges all nearby residents and people who frequent the area to sign it.

Stidman believes there is a “simple fix,” he said.

The petition suggests to create a parking lane in the third lane that is now used by motorists. That third lane is not used by motorists as much as the other two lanes are, Stidman said. Additionally, 13th Avenue is two lanes until Washington Street — Wax Trax is on the corner of Washington and 13th — so when motorists do use the third lane, they tend to increase their speed once on it, Stidman said.

An October 2011 alcohol-related motor vehicle collision at the corner of Washington and 13th resulted in a fatality, when a drunken driver ran a red light and broadsided a car causing it to flip and crash into Wax Trax, damaging its front entrance and façade, multiple media sources reported.

Still, ideally, the wall would come out as well, Stidman said.

“It’s well-intentioned,” he said of the wall, adding it is probably there to serve as a buffer between traffic and pedestrians, “but it’s not working.”

He believes a parking lane would be a much better alternative to the wall, indicating that parked cars serve as a better buffer between traffic and

a sidewalk.

Stidman mentioned he was raised in Denver, but moved back from out-of-state to help his father with the store only a few months ago. So, he was unsure how long the wall has been there, but guessed it has been for quite some time, Stidman said.

Next door, John Kuebler, owner of Kilgore Books & Comics, agrees that getting rid of the wall and converting the third traffic lane into a parking lane would make the area much safer.

“But we’d be open to any ideas that would make it more pedestrianfriendly,” Kuebler said.

Kuebler described his approximate 700-square-foot store as “cozy” and therefore, is operating as walk-up only for now. He is concerned about what it will be like when he opens up for in-store shopping, he said. Though the numbers of area visitors have not returned to the volume it was pre-pandemic, it’s still a busy area, Kuebler said.

About five or six small businesses line the block-long stretch of sidewalk that has the wall. Two are restaurants that both Stidman and Kuebler described as popular and busy.

“If standing outside social distancing, waiting to access the stores, there’s only about three feet between a passerby,” Kuebler said. “It’s narrow and walled in.”

Being able to take even one step into a parking lane without being blocked by a wall would potentially provide people a better opportunity to maintain a six-foot distance between

a a f G

o m i s w

m s

Two people walk westbound toward Pearl Street along the southside of 13th Avenue where a five-foot-wide sidewalk separates store fronts and a three-foot-high concrete wall. Thirteenth Avenue consists of one parking lane on the north side and three lanes of one-way traffic.

CHRISTY STEADMAN

themselves, Kuebler said.

The area boasts being both a residential neighborhood and small business district, with some of those businesses having a regional draw, Stidman said.

Making 13th Avenue safer for all is

just another way to help some local businesses recover from the hardships of the pandemic, Stidman said.

But in general, Stidman added, “one way to support neighborhood business districts is to provide a pedestrian-friendly environment.”

‘I was mentally exhausted from the wall I built up’ Local man takes a million steps for mental health awareness

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Scott Masters is a proud father of two, is a professional hockey advisor and has a career as a real estate agent that he enjoys.

“When I was growing up, being mental was a derogatory term,” Masters said. “I would never have admitted, or even understood, that I suffered from a mental illness. It took me 40 years to start to comprehend how my brain works. Forty years is a long time to be lost, confused or without help.”

Masters, 42, said he still struggles mentally every day.

“And that’s OK,” he said. “I’m more mentally aware now.”

Masters is on a mission to create more awareness about mental health issues.

In the fall of 2019, he completed a 10K for 10K project, during which he ran 10 kilometers — 6.2 miles — every day until he raised a total of $10,000 to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Masters said that during this time, he had so many people reach out to him with a common response: “same here.” And that’s when he discovered the #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement and the nonprofit behind the campaign, We’re All A Little “Crazy.”

Scott Masters has his picture taken on day one of his Million Steps in May effort.

His hand gesture signifies the #SameHere movement, which aims to bring awareness that everyone has some sort of challenge in their life that affects their mental health.

COURTESY PHOTO “The idea here is that we have to get people to stop thinking about mental health as if it’s exclusively mental illness,” said Eric Kussin, CEO and founder of We’re All A Little “Crazy.” “Everyone has a story of challenge, and those stories of challenge affect their mental health.”

It could be a divorce or break-up, job loss or bullying or verbal abuse, among many oth-

ers, Kussin said.

“There’s no shame in sharing because we’ve all got stories,” Kussin said. “It’s something that makes us human and binds us all together.”

This resonated with Masters, and in recognition of Mental Health Month 2020, Masters completed his Million Steps in May. This year, he decided to do an awareness campaign, rather than a fundraising effort, because of COVID-19, Masters said.

“I wanted to do a number that would get people’s attention,” Masters said, “and I wanted it to be something people could relate to.”

Masters believes movement is a key part of being mentally healthy, he said, adding he has always had a passion for being physically fit.

One million steps equals roughly 414 miles, and he averaged about 32,000 steps each day, Masters said. He additionally set the stipulation for himself that the steps had to be taken outdoors, and could not use any step machine or bike to accomplish the steps.

So, he jogged — mostly, although sometimes he ran or walked — around his Englewood neighborhood, which, at the time, he had just recently moved to; popular metroarea spots such as Red Rocks; and his favorite city parks, Cheesman and Washington parks, namely, from his time as a resident of Denver.

“Every day was different,” Masters said, adding he had to fit in completing the steps around work, children and “life in general.”

“Sometimes I did them early in the morning, and sometimes it was late at night.”

Masters related his story on his personal struggles with mental health. He was so self-

LEARN MORE Scott Masters took one million steps in May to raise awareness to mental health. To read his blog about the Million Steps in May challenge, visit http://mastersreg.com/millionsteps/.

Masters plans to do a physical campaign for the #SameHere Global Mental Health Movement and its nonprofit, We’re All A Little “Crazy” each year. To learn more about We’re All A Little “Crazy,” visit https://samehereglobal.org/. driven to be successful that it drove him to a point that he could no longer handle, he said.

Additionally, he was afraid to let people know he was struggling.

“The snowball got bigger and bigger and I was unable to control it,” Masters said. At age 38 he had a “mental breakdown” after having lost everything he worked so hard to achieve.

He went through a divorce, and negativity and anxiety paired with insomnia and overall lack of sleep caused him to be unable to focus at work, which contributed to a lowered work ethic. “And I was mentally exhausted from the wall I built up.”

Looking at his past, Masters said that back then, his idea of success was about having money, an important job title and possessions.

“My definition of success is much different than it was 10 or 15 years ago,” Masters said.

Today, it is defined by happiness.

“I understand that it’s OK to have hurdles and roadblocks,” Masters said. “But understanding what they are helps me manage them.”

Washington Park Profile 15

July 2020

University of Denver celebrates 2020 grads virtually The University of Denver celebrated its Class of 2020 on June 12 with a virtual commencement ceremony being called the Day of Recognition. The event honored more than 3,300 graduates who studied at the university’s 10 schools and colleges.

Speeches included a conferral of degrees and remarks from Chancellor Jeremy Haefner among others, and messages of congratulations from several dignitaries including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette.

The Day of Recognition also included the opportunity for graduating students who remained in the Denver area to be photographed in their cap and gown. About 250 graduates signed up for the photo shoot, which operated with careful social distancing measures.

DU is planning to host a formal commencement ceremony for its 2020 graduates next spring.

A University of Denver graduate wears a graduation cap and gown and face covering while attending the commencement ceremony on June 12.

The University of Denver puts on a virtual commencement ceremony on June 12 to honor its Class of 2020.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WAYNE ARMSTRONG, UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

Graduates of the University of Denver’s Class of 2020 maintained safe distancing as they took part in a photo op during the ceremony on June 12.

Graduates of the University of Denver’s Class of 2020 had an opportunity to participate in a social-distanced photo op in their caps and gowns on June 12.

Save Now On Home Security Monitored by ADT ® the #1 home security company in the U.S. GREAT

LOW PRICE

ADT® 24/7 Monitored Home Security

24/7 monitoring provides peace of mind Yard sign and window decals help deter crime

MONITORING

Quickly connect to fire and emergency response May qualify for a homeowners insurance discount PER MONTH

FREE HOME SECURITY SYSTEM 850

$

VALUE

FREE SECURITY SYSTEM

New customers only. Early termination fee applies. Installation starts at $99 with 36 month monitoring agreement. See details below.

FREE VISA GIFT CARD ®

From Protect Your Home —$100 Value

FREE

7 WIRELESS DOOR/ WINDOW SENSORS —$695 VALUE!

LIMITED TIME OFFER—CALL TODAY!

1-877-219-6861

FREE WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL —$139 Value

FREE OUTDOOR CAMERA

When you upgrade to ADT Pulse® + Video

—$299 VALUE!

See all offer details below.

Ask about same-day installation!

Reply By July 18, 2020

GIFT CARD: $100 Visa Gift Card fulfilled by Protect Your Home through third-party provider, Mpell, upon installation of a security system and execution of monitoring contract. $4.95 shipping and handling fee, gift cards can take up to 8 weeks to arrive after following the Mpell redemption process. BASIC SYSTEM: $99 Parts and Install. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64). 24-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($671.76) for California. Offer applies to homeowners only. Basic system requires landline phone. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Cannot be combined with any other offer. The $27.99 Offer does not include Quality Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. ADT Pulse: ADT Pulse Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Pulse”), which help you manage your home environment and family lifestyle, require the purchase and/or activation of an ADT alarm system with monitored burglary service and a compatible computer, cell phone or PDA with Internet and email access. These ADT Pulse services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Pulse equipment. All ADT Pulse services are not available with the various levels of ADT Pulse. All ADT Pulse services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the ADT Pulse features you desire. ADT PULSE + VIDEO: ADT Pulse + Video installation is an additional $299. 36-month monitoring contract required from ADT Pulse + Video: $59.99 per month, ($2,159.64), including Quality Service Plan (QSP). Doorbell camera may not be available in all areas. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply. Additional monitoring fees required for some services. For example, Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or activation of an ADT security system with monitored Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert devices and are an additional charge. Additional equipment may be purchased for an additional charge. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Prices subject to change. Prices may vary by market. Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the exact product/service actually provided. Licenses: AL-21-001104, AR-CMPY.0001725 AZ-ROC217517, CA-ACO6320, CT-ELC.0193944-L5, DC-EMS902653, DC-602516000016, DE-07-212, FL-EC13003427, EC13003401, GA-LVA205395, IA-AS-0206, ID-ELE-SJ-39131, IL-127.001042, IN-C.P.D. Reg. No. – 19-08088, City of Indianapolis: LAC-000156, KY-City of Louisville: 483, LA-F1914, LA-F1915, LA-F1082, MA-1355C, MD-107-1626, ME-LM50017382, MI-3601205773, MN-TS01807, MO-City of St. Louis: CC#354, St. Louis County: 100194, MS-15007958,MT-PSP-ELS-LIC-247, NC-25310-SP-FA/LV, NC-1622-CSA, NE-14451, NJ Burglar Alarm Lic. # -NJ-34BF00021800, NM-353366, NV-0068518, City of Las Vegas: 3000008296, NY-Licensed by the N.Y.S. Department of State UID#12000317691, NYS #12000286451,OH-53891446, City of Cincinnati: AC86, OK-AC1048, OR-170997, Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number: PA022999, RI-3582, RI-7508, SC-BAC5630, SD- 1025-7001-ET, TN-1520, TX-B13734, ACR-3492, UT-6422596-6501, VA-115120, VT-ES-2382(7C),WA-602588694/ECPROTEYH934RS, WI-City of Milwaukee: PAS-0002966, WV-WV042433, WY-LV-G-21499. 3750 Priority Way South Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46240 ©2017 DEFENDERS, Inc. dba Protect Your Home DF-CD-NP-Q220

16 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

GOING FOR THE GOLD AWARD

Two Denver Girl Scouts implement projects to better their community

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

A couple of East High School class of 2020 graduates have spent the past couple of years dedicated to making a difference in their community.

Fiona Goe, 17, of Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood and Ellie McWhirter, 18, of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood are best friends and have been part of Park Hill-based Girl Scout Troop 3573 since the first and second grade, respectively.

“All the experiences I had in Girl Scouts shaped me into who I am today,” McWhirter said.

These experiences include travelling abroad — namely, to Costa Rica, Italy and Iceland — and lots of opportunities to volunteer in the local community.

“Being a Girl Scout is definitely much more than selling cookies,” Goe said, especially as a Girl Scout gets older.

During their sophomore year in high school, the two started thinking about earning a Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn and the culmination of her Girl Scout experience. It is an individual effort, not a troop effort, and not every Girl Scout pursues it.

To earn it, a Girl Scout must complete a large-scale project that solves a community problem — not only in the short-term but for years into the future. It typically takes about two years to complete a Gold

p

a I “ r

c t r r e

d

Fiona Goe, 17, gives a presentation while working on her Girl Scouts Gold Award project. Goe’s The Informed Voters Project addressed the lack of informed voters among her peers at East High School and in her community.

COURTESY PHOTO Award project.

Girl Scouts who choose to earn a Gold Award must be passionate, resilient, organized and demonstrate active leadership, said Kaitie LoDolce, manager of Highest Awards for Girl Scouts of Colorado.

“By earning the Gold Award, girls

enter into an elite class of women nation-wide who have made a difference,” LoDolce said. “Having the Gold Award shows that she is a young woman of courage, confidence and character at the highest level who is committed to making her community and the world a better place.”

Ellie McWhirter, 18, holds up a reusable bag during a photo op for her Girl Scouts Gold Award project. McWhirter had originally planned on implementing take-a-bag/leave-a-bag dispensers at area grocery stores, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented her from being able to do so. Her project then became more of an awareness campaign and information hub about the dangers of plastic bags.

COURTESY PHOTO The Informed Voters Project Goe’s The Informed Voters Project addressed the lack of informed voters among her peers at East High School and in her community.

Though many are not voting age quite yet, Goe felt that her generation wants to see — and be a part of — change, but

m t i f K

m t many did not know how to go about D researching policy and elected officials. G “I cared that my peers will become s informed voters,” Goe said, “and find n candidates that would represent their w beliefs the best.” s a SEE SCOUTS, P19 h i t

Dental Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve!

• Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket • This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan • Get affordable coverage before your next checkup

Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details.

1-855-993-1460 dental50plus.com/rockymtn

This policy does not include coverage of pediatric dental services as required under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Coverage of pediatric dental services is available for purchase in the State of Colorado and can be purchased as a stand-alone plan. Please contact Connect for Health Colorado to purchase either plan that includes pediatric dental coverage or an Exchange-certified stand-alone dental plan that includes pediatric dental coverage. This policy has limitations. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call or write to the company. Insurance Policy P150 AW19-1047 6210

w t r m

July 2020

Washington Park Profile 17

‘They are cheering for us to succeed’ Denver-based Iconic Medical Group donates face shields to local restaurants

In total, 19,000 face shields were donated to local restaurants, said Ellen Marchman, who served as media relations for the event.

Each independent restaurant was provided one box of face shields per restaurant location.

For example, Marchman said, Illegal Pete’s is a locally-owned restaurant chain with nine locations throughout Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins. Therefore, they received nine boxes,

By Christy Steadman totaling 900 face shields for their operations, csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Marchman said.

“We’re mainly doing it for the kitchen” Yasu Kizaki believes the survival of indestaff, said Shasta Kibe, manager of Bastien’s pendent restaurants is critical.

Restaurant in Denver’s City Park neighbor“Restaurants create a unique character of hood. a city,” Kizaki said, who co-owns Sushi Den, Chefs and cooks spend hours next to a grill Izakaya Den and Ototo Den with his brother. that can get up to 700 degrees or more, Kibe “People look forward to dining out (at local said. A face shield, which provides just as restaurants) when they travel.” good — if not better — protecBut not only do restaurants from any potential spread of contribute to the tourism indusLEARN MORE tion the coronavirus, is a much better try, many other industries rely on alternative to a mask in those restaurants, Kizaki said. Namely, Iconic Medical temperatures, Kibe said. ranchers and farmers, and suppli- Group is a new, But aside from that, she added, ers and distributers, he added.

Denver-based restaurants serve the general “If we go down, all that goes manufacturing and public and “the more we can do down with us,” Kizaki said. distributing comto protect each other is a good Surviving on a take-out only pany. Miguel Sosa, thing.” model was difficult, and the need CEO and founder, Clinton Manzzo, executive chef to adhere to certain social distanc- estimated that by for West of Surrender, a new resing measures upon reopening July, the company taurant located on the 16th Street further adds to the challenge, will have made at Kizaki said.

Mall, agreed. least five million face “We opened in September, just So to help independent Denver- shields since openbefore everything hit,” he said, metro restaurants reopen with ing in May. Iconic’s the proper protocols, Kizaki and products — including “but we wanted to keep going.”

The restaurant stayed opened Denver-based Iconic Medical protective eyewear, for take out, and participated Group partnered to provide face hand sanitizer and in meal donations for teachers, shields to any local restaurant in face shields — are first responders and medical need. available for purpersonnel through the pandemic.

“I love our restaurants, and I chase by the public.

However, Manzzo added, West want to make sure they can open To learn more, visit of Surrender is family owned and safely,” said Miguel Sosa, CEO www.iconicmedicaloperated so all supplies, includand founder of Iconic. “Americans group.com. ing those that provide protection have a remarkable way of innovatfrom spreading the virus, comes ing their way out of a crisis when out-of-pocket. they come together and work together.”

Local restaurants have been hit hard by the On June 11, Iconic brought 200 boxes filled COVID-19 pandemic, Kizaki said. with 100 face shields each to Sushi Den’s roof“This is a little bit of good news,” Kizaki said top in Platt Park to donate to any independent of the face shield donations. “They (Iconic) are restaurant that came by during the approxicheering for us to succeed.” mate three-hour distribution period.

Yasu Kizaki, right, owner of Sushi Den, talks with Clinton Manzzo, executive chef for West of Surrender, a new restaurant on the 16th Street Mall, as Manzzo picks up a box of 100 face shields donated by Iconic Medical Group.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Enrollment open for 2020/21 Private Kindergarten and 2020 School-Age Summer Camp Celebrating 56 Years

Miguel Sosa, CEO and founder of Denver-based Iconic Medical Group, stands in front of a stack of boxes containing 100 face shields each. Iconic partnered with Yasu Kizaki, owner of Sushi Den, to donate 20,000 face shields to Denver metro area independent restaurants.

18 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

12 metro police agencies joined Denver during protests Tactics, use-of-force rules differed among departments; tactics draw rebuke from federal judge

By David Gilbert dgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com

In the days after protests against racial injustice and police brutality first broke out in Denver on May 28, the Denver Police Department called in backup from a dozen metro-area law enforcement agencies, each bringing their own equipment, tactics and use-of-force regulations.

City police departments and county sheriff ’s offices in Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson, Adams and Broomfield counties assisted in Denver.

As police and protesters clashed, with some protesters vandalizing or destroying property or throwing objects at police, officers deployed a variety of crowd-control methods, including firing “less-lethal munitions” at protesters, and deploying tear gas and flash-bang devices.

How Denver police oversaw and coordinated the response and crowd-control methods of officers from numerous agencies is difficult to determine — the department did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Colorado Community Media.

But in a rebuke of police tactics, federal District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson issued a temporary restraining order against Denver police and partner agencies late on June 5, severely restricting their ability to use such methods.

“Although I do not agree with those who have committed property damage during the protests, property damage is a small price to pay for constitutional rights — especially the constitutional right of the public to speak against widespread injustice,” Jackson wrote in an 11-page decision, citing injuries to protesters including “loss of vision, fractured bones requiring surgery, deep laceration, loss of eyes, (and) ruptured testicles.”

“If a store’s windows must be broken to prevent a protestor’s facial bones from being broken or eye being permanently damaged, that is more than a fair trade,” Jackson wrote. “If a building must be graffiti-ed to prevent the suppression of free speech, that is a fair trade. The threat to physical safety and free speech outweighs the threat to property.”

The protests were spurred by the May 25 death of Black Minneapolis man George Floyd, who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.

Investigators ruled Floyd’s death a homicide, and officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other officers have been charged with aiding and

Demonstrators gathered May 28 at the Colorado state Capitol in Denver to protest the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis . PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN abetting murder.

Officers from a dozen metro-area agencies responded to the Denver protests, according to Denver police: Adams County Sheriff ’s Office, Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office, Arvada Police, Aurora Police, Broomfield Police, Brighton Police, Commerce City Police, Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office, Lakewood

Police, Wheat Ridge Police and Westminster Police.

Though Colorado Community Media was not able to obtain comment from all 12 agencies, a sampling of respondents showed a variety of tactics and involvement.

Adams County deputies, for example, deployed flash-bang devices and two types of tear gas, according to Commander Paul

Gregory.

In social media posts and in response to questions from journalists, Denver police repeatedly denied using flash-bang devices against protesters.

Adams County deputies detained protesters on behalf of Denver police, Gregory said, but said the detainments were not arrests.

Unlike many local agencies, Adams County deputies do not wear body cameras.

Gregory did not respond to a question about how many Adams County deputies provided backup in Denver.

Adams County Sheriff Rick Reigenborn did not respond to multiple requests for comment on his department’s tactics and crowd control methods.

The Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office sent 44 officers on May 31 and June 1, drawn from county deputies and officers from city police departments that form a joint task force.

The Jefferson County team made about 10 arrests, said Sheriff Jeff Shrader, including “three or four” people found to be carrying weapons including guns. Shrader said he was unsure whether Jefferson County personnel deployed tear gas, but said he was aware of one instance of a deputy firing “less-lethal” rounds at a fleeing suspect.

Shrader said he understands the outrage at Floyd’s death.

“We all witnessed a murder in that video,” Shrader said, adding he supports many elements of a police reform bill making its way through the state General Assembly.

The Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office used a variety of munitions, according to spokesperson Lauren Childress, including tear gas, “sting ball grenades,” foam bullets, bean bag rounds, flash-bang grenades and 40mm “aerial warning” munitions.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock declined a request for an interview through a spokesperson.

In an interview on other matters with Colorado Community Media’s Elliott Wenzler, Spurlock decried the Floyd killing, saying: “There is no reasonable, rational reason for any police officer to use that kind of restraint on someone.”

Other departments’ responses to assist in Denver appear to have been more low-key.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office sent between 40 and 50 deputies for several nights, said Sheriff Tyler Brown, but said they fired no shots or tear gas and made no arrests.

Brown said he sympathized with protesters, saying George Floyd’s killing was “an abuse of power people should be upset about.”

While Brown said he is confident Arapahoe County is a forward-thinking department, there’s always room for improvement.

“We need to make sure our ears and offices are open to have these conversations,” Brown said. “We can do this together.”

WPVC

Washington Park Veterinary Clinic With loving hearts and caring hands, we take the time to help you provide the best care for your pets.

We are considered essential and will remain open to care for your pets during this health crises. Please contact the clinic for hours of operation and new protocols when scheduling an appointment.

393 S. Pearl St. • 303-871-8050

www.washingtonparkvc.com · Office Hours M-F 9-6 Karen Jones-Diller, DVM | Laura Lederman, DVM Lindsey Rademacher, DVM

Washington Park Profile 19

July 2020

‘We will take what we can get’ Retired Denver Broncos spokesman talks significance of sports in city

By Jim Benton jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Denver is the smallest of the 13 U.S. cities with four professional sports teams in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association.

But is Denver really a sports city?

Let’s ask somebody who should know.

Jim Saccomano was born and raised in Denver. He went to Mount Carmel High School, has two degrees from Metropolitan State University of Denver and earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado.

Saccomano worked as the public relations chief for the Denver Bears and was the highly respected Denver Broncos vice president of public relations for 36 years before retiring in 2013.

“It’s a knee-jerk answer, but sports are very important in Denver,” Saccomano said. “Sometimes we just get used to things and take them for granted. Like on those cool summer nights, I step outside on my deck and I say, ‘Oh, what a beautiful night this would be at Coors Field.’”

He added that people work hard, and that’s one reason sports talk shows are so big.

“People are driving home from work and they listen to those shows,” Saccomano said.

“Then you come home, have dinner and sports are all on TV. It’s a diversion. Everybody works hard enough and it’s a wonderful thing for them to say, ‘Now, I’m watching my team.’

Scouts FROM PAGE 16

To accomplish this, Goe worked with the League of Women Voters and a political science professor at the University of Denver to create a survey to serve as a tool to help people understand which political party they best align with.

Goe then had a sampling of people — her friends, family members and acquaintances — take the survey.

The results were surprising to some of the participants, Goe said. For example, one version of her survey focused on candidates for the Denver mayoral election.

“My grandpa had one candidate in mind,” Goe said. “However, after he took my survey, he was surprised to find that his chosen candidate did not represent the majority of his views.”

Goe’s survey will fulfill the Gold Award’s requirement of being sustainable in two ways.

The first is she created a website to house the survey, and the website also includes information on how to move forward with becoming an informed voter. Secondly, every future student at East High School will take the survey in civics class, a course required for graduation.

Goe said completing her Gold Award project and the finished product are rewarding, adding “it was good to see my friends taking the survey and engaging in politics.”

Plastic Bag Awareness Project McWhirter’s Plastic Bag Awareness Project began with the concept of a reusable bag exchange. She had launched a website and was in the midst of arranging with local grocery stores to host the bag exchange dispensers.

Then COVID-19 hit, and the grocery stores said they were no longer able to work with her.

“I was upset because I had worked so hard,” McWhirter said. “But I decided to make it more of an information hub, rather than an

Sports are very important and I’ll be glad to have it back.”

Saccomano believes sports — on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic — will be back in the near future.

“I just hope we play this fall and have fans when we can,” said Saccomano. “Right now, we will take what we can get. Everybody is going to have to adjust — the fans, the press, the teams, the players — and then we’ll see. It’s an adjustment for all of us and just shows us that nothing ever stays the same.”

Reminiscing on Denver’s sports history Saccomano — with a little encouragement — remembered way too much of Denver’s sports history to reminiscence in this column. But here are a few of his thoughts about baseball, onetime Broncos owner Gerald Phipps, erstwhile Broncos owner Edgar Kaiser and Broncos quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning.

“Denver was always a baseball town,” Saccomano pointed out. “Denver had a professional team in 1895. You think about it, and how the heck are you going someplace in 1895?

By wagon? Five guys in a wagon? Three miles seems like a pretty good trek on a wagon.”

Saccomano remembered being shown the newspaper when Denver became a Triple A franchise from the Western League.

“The headline type was so big, almost as big as ‘War in Europe Over,’” Saccomano said.

He added that “baseball was big, and the dog races. Sounds crazy now, but in the ‘50s, that was a really big thing. There wasn’t that much in Denver — the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, and the Denver Bears, which were an affiliate of the Yankees and Tigers, and had great success.”

And what about the Broncos? Saccomano was once quoted as saying, “the Broncos are the state religion in Colorado and are the soul of

the city.”

“When the Broncos came, I always felt historically that they were terrible,” admitted Saccomano. “Then in about 1964, they almost moved to Atlanta. The ownership group was going to sell to Atlanta, and then Gerry Phipps excuses himself from a meeting, goes across the street to a bank, borrows a million dollars and comes back and buys out his partners. Then Phipps owned the Broncos.”

Saccomano added that season tickets sales were in the 5,000-to-7,000 range.

“And then after a terrible year, when they didn’t move and were saved, there were 22,000 season tickets in (the) 35,000-seat Bears Stadium,” Saccomano said. “The Broncos just became enormous and set the stage for the Nuggets — which were originally the Rockets — and the other sports.”

Two other significant moves include owner Edgar Kaiser arranging the trade to get quarterback John Elway to Denver in 1983, and Elway enticing quarterback Peyton Manning to play for the Broncos before the 2012 season.

“Kaiser deserves a lot of credit for what he did to get Elway,” said Saccomano. “Everybody was thinking he would be traded, but they were thinking Raiders and Al Davis, or the Chargers. That statue at the airport of Wally Schirra, no offense what so ever, but that could easily be John Elway. If you say Denver internationally, they say, ‘Oh Elway, Broncos.’”

Elway, as Broncos president of football operations, signed Manning as a free agent.

“I remember sitting in the press conference room,” Saccomano said, “waiting for the Manning press conference and Les Shapiro said to me, ‘You know, I’ve sat in this room for so many press conferences and I just can’t believe in a few minutes, Peyton Manning will walk in these doors.’”

Jim Saccomano served as the vice president of public relations for the Denver Broncos for 36 years before retiring in 2013. ERIC LARS BAKKE Looking at sports down the road Saccomano says it will take some time for the Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche and other sports to rebound from the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It will be a big change, even more so because we will get used to watching games on TV,” said Saccomano. “It just makes it harder for everybody to get all those people back. It will take them a while to rebound. The Broncos are more like, to me, a big-time college program in terms of how the fans are to them. The Steelers and Packers are like us. They transcend everything and so do the Broncos. Good or bad.”

Saccomano added that discussions on tickets prices are “kind of like a two-edged sword.”

“Teams would like to raise them but it’s a terrible time to do that,” Saccomano said. “You probably have to say, ‘Welcome to 2021 and the ticket office is open.’ And for every ticket you sell, you say, ‘Thank you sir, thank you ma’am.’”

DEPENDABLE and DEPENDABLE DEPENDABLE andand KNOWLEDGEABLE agents KNOWLEDGEABLE KNOWLEDGEABLE agents agents FATHER O DEPENDABLE DEPENDABLE DEPENDABLE andandand Mus seek customers looking for seekseek customers customers looking looking for for lady. ready to j DEPENDABLE and Military tr KNOWLEDGEABLE agents KNOWLEDGEABLE KNOWLEDGEABLE agents agents real PROTECTION and long realreal PROTECTION PROTECTION andand longlong KNOWLEDGEABLE agents ADVENTU seek customers looking for seek seek customers customers looking looking for for adventuro term RELATIONSHIPS. term term RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS. employed seek customers looking for Especially real PROTECTION and realreal PROTECTION PROTECTION andand long longlong cats. All r real PROTECTION and long Looking fo term RELATIONSHIPS. term term RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS.

interactive project.”

McWhirter built up her website with information on the impacts that plastic bags have on the environment, and solutions that everyone can do to help lessen the impact such as how to make a reusable bag.

“I have a solid project as is,” McWhirter said, “but I’d still like to implement my original project to help my community more.”

To do this, McWhirter plans on looking into connecting with younger Girl Scout troops and/or other clubs to generate interest in carrying her project on.

Still, the project fulfills the sustainability requirement with its website, but also through working with the Park Hill food bank, one GRANOLA of the places where McWhirter’s Girl Scout WORLD T Troop had previously volunteered.

Early on in implementing her project, Mcdreams.M Whirter received a donation of about 300-500 days and SINGLE, ARTSY LADY SEEKS SINGLE ARTSY GUY. If you reusable bags from the Colorado Convention of nowher love painting, decorating, baking and knitting, we are a Center. McWhirter remembered that the Park Having one special person for your car, home and life insurance letsinsurance you get down to get camp, pit Hill food bank uses primarily plastic bags Having one Having special one person special for person your for car, your home car, and home life insurance and life lets you lets get down you to down to match. Please be over 30 and willing to take art classes. ® when clients pick up food. business with the rest of your life.

We’re State Farm – it’s we do, 24 / 7, 365. food, we ® what ® businessbusiness with the with rest of theyour restlife. of your We’re life.State We’re Farm State–Farm it’s what – it’s we what do, 24 / 7, we do,365.

24 / 7, 365. n On her Plastic Bag Awareness Project ™ GET TO A BETTER STATE .

CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. ™ GET TO GET A BETTER TO A BETTER STATE™.STATE CONTACT . CONTACT AN AGENT AN TODAY. AGENT TODAY. website, McWhirter directs people to donate any extra reusable bags to the food bank, and the food bank in turn can track the impact of Having onefor special person forand your and lets you get McWhirter’s project through the donations.

Having one Having special one person special person your for car, your home car, home lifecar, insurance andhome life insurance letslife youinsurance lets get down you get to down to down to ® ® Plus, McWhirter added, the food bank will ® ® business with the rest of your life.

We’re State Farm – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, 365. business with the rest of your life.

We’re State Farm – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, businessbusiness with the with rest the of your rest life. of your We’re life.State We’re Farm State–Farm it’s what – it’s wewhat do, 24 / 7, we do,365.

24 / 7, 365. 365. now be able to provide reusable bags to their ™ GET TO A BETTER STATE ™. CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. ™ ™ TO A BETTER . CONTACT ANTODAY. AGENT TODAY. GET TOGET A BETTER TO AGET BETTER STATE STATE . CONTACT . STATE CONTACT AN AGENT AN TODAY. AGENT clients.

Earning a Gold Award may seem scary at first to some Girl Scouts, Goe said, because of BarbBarb FrankFrank Insur Agcy IncInsur Lori Rickert Insur AgcyAgcy IncInsur the amount of work and dedication it requires.

Barb Insur Frank Agcy Inc Agcy Inc Lori Rickert LoriInsur Rickert Inc Agcy Inc Barb Barb Frank,Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, Agent “But it’s awesome. You get to design a Agent LoriAgent Rickert, Agent Barb Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, 261 S261 Downing St S St 714 South Pearl Street project, lead a team and see change in your S Downing 714 South Pearl Street 261 Downing St 714 South Pearl Street Bus: Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 community,” Goe said. “I would encourage any 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 girl to complete it (Gold Award) and stick with www.loririckert.net Barbwww.barbfrank.com Frank Insur www.barbfrank.com Agcy Inc Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net www.loririckert.net Girl Scouts.”

Barb Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, Agent Barb Frank Insur Inc Lori Rickert Lori Rickert Inc McWhirter agreed.

Barb Frank BarbInsur Frank Agcy Insur Inc Agcy Inc Agcy LoriInsur Rickert Agcy Insur Inc AgcyInsur Inc Agcy 261 S Downing St 714 South Pearl Street Barb Frank, Agent LoriAgent Rickert, Agent “I loved being a part of something,” she Barb Frank, BarbAgent Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, LoriAgent Rickert, Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 ® 261 S Downing St said of her Girl Scout experience. “Being a 714 South Pearl Street statefarm.com 261 Sstatefarm.com Downing 261 Sstatefarm.com Downing St St ® 714 South 714 Pearl South Street Pearl Street ® www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net Girl Scout helped me stay on the right path.

Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-757-7440 So, if you have a daughter, put her in Girl www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net www.barbfrank.com www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net www.loririckert.net State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company Scouts. And if you are a daughter, join the State Farm State MutualFarm Automobile Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, InsuranceState Company, Farm State Indemnity FarmCompany Indemnity Company State ®Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL 1101202.1 statefarm.com State Farm State Fire and Farm Casualty Fire andCompany, CasualtyState Company, Farm State General Farm Insurance GeneralCompany, InsuranceBloomington, Company, Bloomington, IL IL Girl Scouts.”

1101202.11101202.1

term RELATIONSHIPS.

Look no further.

Look Look no further. no further.

no further.

LookLook noLook further. no further.

20 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

Documenting a pandemic in Denver Denver-area archivists chronicling this time

By Paul Albani-Burgio palbaniburgio@coloradocommunitymedia.com

W

hen six-year-old Noah Alpert decided to express his feelings about his life during the COVID-19 pandemic in a song, he never could have imagined that song would someday end up in the collection of a major historical museum.

Yet that’s just where it is now, thanks to a new effort underway at History Colorado to document the pandemic’s impact on Colorado that is finding material worth saving in the most unexpected places.

The Denver historical society, which operates the History Colorado Center downtown, launched its COVID-19 collecting project in late March, when it posted a message on its website asking Colorado residents to share stories about the experiences with COVID-19 with it.

The post explained that the museum was giving residents a variety of means to do so ranging from answering a series of survey questions online to creating a journal and then submitting it to the museum.

Although the collection process (like the crisis itself ) is still ongoing, senior curator Alisa DiGiacomo said several themes and commonalities have already begun to emerge from the impressive amount of material that has already been collected.

“It’s clear the commonalities as far as the people that have responded,” she said.

“That feeling of isolation, which for the people who haven’t necessarily been di-

rectly affected is also mixed with gratitude as far as tragedy, but still who are in isolation and getting used to the new normal.

We’ve also had interesting submissions from children, which it’s fascinating to see that perspective and to, for example, know that students miss school and that they now have a different perspective of missing what they took for granted and being in the classroom.”

That said, there are still some perspectives that DiGiacomo feels still need to be brought into the growing collection.

“Part of what we know is missing is what I would call the more tragic stories whether it’s somebody that’s been directly affected by COVID or lost a family member or had financial hardship,” said DiGiacomo. “Those are some of the stories that we know will be coming but we know that it takes a little time.”

Closed signs collected History Colorado, however, will be just one of several institutions where future generations will be able to find documents and other artifacts from this current crisis.

At the Jefferson County Archives, archivist Ronda Frasier said her efforts have focused on county government communications related to the crisis.

“I have just been basically gathering and saving all of the communications that have been put out by the county commissioners and Jeffco Public Health,” said Frasier.

“That includes both everything that has gone to the public as well as everything that has gone to employees.”

Just across the street from the History Colorado Center on North Broadway, the Denver Public Library has also been working to document the local impact of

Bringing Color to Wash Park

To keep our wonderful painters busy in the winter months, we are offering

20% December to July 2020 OFF April 2020

labor on all interior jobs performed in

20

+

Ireland’s Finest Painting Co. (303) 512-8777 irelandsfinestinc.com

Need A Little Help?

COVID-19, albeit by with a slightly different approach.

After learning that History Colorado planned to focus on collecting journals and other oral histories, the library’s Western Histories and Genealogy Department decided it would work to document the impact on businesses by having staff go out in their own neighborhoods to take pictures of closed signs at local businesses from throughout the city. They also collected several take-out menus from restaurants that provide a different look at the impact on the restaurant industry.

“It was pretty ephemeral because most of those signs are now gone and those businesses are now open,” said Jamie Seemiller, the department’s Acquisitions Archivist. “So, it was just trying to document how that short time period affected neighborhoods and businesses in those neighborhoods.”

At the Golden History Museum and Park in Golden, curator Mark Dodge put out a call to the Golden community asking them to consider and submit suggestions for how that museum should document the pandemic. Some of the suggestions have included N-95 masks, a copy of Jefferson County’s Public Health Orders and even hand sanitizer and toilet paper.

Dodge said in a post on the museum’s website that it has already added a homemade face mask, along with dozens of photos of downtown Golden taken on March 18, to its collection.

Colorado State University’s libraries, meanwhile, are focusing their collection efforts on documenting the impact of the pandemic on the school’s Fort Collins campus.

“We are interested in your stories about the shift to remote instruction and learning, studying and working from home, working at off-campus jobs, the impact of closing residence halls and other campus services, and the ways you and your friends and family are staying in touch during the pandemic,” reads a post on the library’s website.

In addition to collecting photos and signs to document COVID-19, Seemiller said the library has also aimed to document the historic Black Lives Matter protests that recently took place around the Colorado State Capitol just blocks away from the museum.

Protests also being documented One morning, a photographer visited the area around the Capitol before protesting had resumed to document the pro-Black-Lives-Matter graffiti that now covered the capitol and several surrounding buildings. Another staff member, who lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood,

DOCUMENTATION EFFORTS History Colorado History Colorado is collecting journals, voicemails and other artifacts, with a focus on first-person narratives. Visit www. historycolorado.org/covid-19 for more information. Some documents have already been added to History Colorado’s online collection. They can be viewed at: 5008. sydneyplus.com/HistoryColorado_ArgusNet_Final/Portal.aspx?

Denver Public Library The Denver Public Library has collected photos, menus and other materials. Many of those materials have been published to its Digital Collections site at digital. denverlibrary.org. later collected around 30 protest signs that will be digitized and made available online. The library also has some videos of the protesting, although Seemiller said staff will blur out the faces of those captured on the video to protect their privacy.

Documenting the protests has presented particular challenges, Seemiller said.

“When we documented the Women’s Marches over the last few years, we had a table set up down there and we would tell people to donate their stuff and have them fill out our forms,” said Seemiller. “But this one moved so quickly that he kind of just found abandoned signs so we don’t always know the complete story behind each sign like we did with the Women’s March.”

The library’s archiving activities have also been further complicated by COVID-19 itself, which has kept staff away from their office’s since March.

Someday, researchers might examine the various COVID-19 collections being amassed across the state alongside institutions collections of material from the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, which tend to be more limited. Seemiller said the library’s collection includes records of who died as well as obituaries.

History Colorado’s material, mostly consists of newspapers from the pandemic that are contained in its extensive newspaper archive. However, the museum also recently had the opportunity to acquire the trunk of a woman who died in that pandemic.

DiGiacomo, however, expects the museum’s COVID-19 collection to be much richer than its Spanish Flu collection for one key reason.

“The biggest difference is that we do not have material as rich as far as the firsthand experience as we have the opportunity to collect right now,” she said.

Want to Give A Little Help?

Then call A Little Help. 720-242-9032

We connect neighbors across ages to enhance lives and strengthen communities.

Neighbors Can Help: • Provide rides for appointments and errands • Friendly visits • Light yard work

• Handy services • Snow shoveling • Technology help

Connecting neighbors across ages to enhance lives and strengthen communities.

Find out more about A Little Help at www.alittlehelp.org

Washington Park Profile 21

July 2020

A passerby looks at the artwork part of a pop-up community art display called Re-imagine Safety. The event took place on June 15 in front of Denver’s City and County Building, and was organized by the Anti-Racist Club and RedLine Contemporary Art Center.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Toluwanimi Obiwole reads an original poem during a pop-up community art display event on June 15. The event was organized by the Anti-Racist Club and RedLine Contemporary Art Center. Find Obiwole’s work on Instagram: @toluwaob.

Keeping systemic racism at the forefront of conversation New club partners with art community to implement art installation in front of Denver’s City and County Building

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

A Talaya Banks reads an original poem during a pop-up community art display event on June 15. The event was organized by the Anti-Racist Club and RedLine Contemporary Art Center. Find Banks’ work on Instagram: @ Sunlight Quartz.

Isaiah Ulla signs a poster board at an event put on by the Anti-Racist Club and RedLine Contemporary Art Center. The event took place in front of the Denver City and County Building downtown on June 15.

rt has a way of influencing change.

“Artists have always been at the forefront of being thoughtful and creative on how we bring about change,” said JC Futrell, director of education at RedLine Contemporary Art Center, a nonprofit located in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

To provide people with an access point to further educate themselves on the Black Lives Matter movement, and to celebrate the work that’s being done toward social change, RedLine partnered with a new, local organization called the Anti-Racist Club to implement a community art display in front of Denver’s City and County Building. The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, an organization that “provides grants and fellowships to advance the arts and inspire creative leadership in Denver,” states its website, was also involved with the event.

The art installation went up on June 15.

The event included the artwork display, a few speeches and poetry readings. As of June 14 — which was when RedLine provided space to any community artist who wanted to create artwork for the display — about 100 pieces of original art were submitted, and the art came from across Colorado and even a couple of other states, Futrell said.

June 15, a Monday, was the chosen day for the art installation to go up so that Denver’s City Council could see the community’s input on the city’s discussions surrounding the future of policing and safety in Denver, Futrell said.

The city had given its permission for the art installation, and it will remain in its location in front of the City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St., for an indefinite period of time. It is Futrell’s hope that people not only take the opportunity to view the art, but also build on it with their own submissions.

Local artist Leticia Tanguma looks over her work as displayed for a pop-up community art display that took place in front of Denver’s City and County Building on June 15.

LEARN MORE The Anti-Racist Club can be found on Facebook at theantiracistclub, and Instagram at @antiracistclubco.

To learn more about RedLine Contemporary Art Center, visit www.redlineart.org.

Co-organized by Katie Leonard, Daria Eisner and Torrence Brown-Smith, the Denver-based Anti-Racist Club got its start in early June. As of the June 15 event, the club had about 2,000 registered members, Leonard said.

Its mission, Leonard said, is “to keep systemic racism at the forefront of conversation through education and civic engagement.”

“There are a lot of conversations about policy (and) we’re on the heels of a lot of momentum,” Leonard said. “We’re all collectively feeling something. Art cuts right to the chase. It moves people and can reach them in a way that words sometimes can’t.”

JC Futrell, director of education at RedLine Contemporary Art Center, assists Louise Martorano, executive director of RedLine, set up Martorano’s artwork for a pop-up community art display on June 15.

22 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

Service Directory

CALL TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! 303-566-4091 Merchandise

Drywall

Lawn/Garden Services

Jewelry

WALL & CEILING REPAIRS Skimming, patching, drywall finishing & texture, ceiling & wall repair due to water damage. Call Tom, 720530-7586.

GREENCREST LANDSCAPING Specializing in lawn removal and resodding. No job too small. Call Bill at 303-722-5923

SOWILO ARTISAN JEWELRY Hand crafted designs in silver.

Custom design, silver jewelry restoration and repair. 1221 S. Pearl St. 303-548-5467. Tuesday - Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm. sowilollc@gmail. com.

Basements

THE WALL REBUILDER Cracks? Holes? Ugly texture? We fix any kind of damage in any age home. Plaster (and Drywall) Repair/ Remodel www.wallrebuilder.com Laura and Dan Pino 303-698-1057 Free Estimates.

BASEMENT RENOVATIONS Offering Quality Workmanship on mid century homes in the Washington Park community Our company has received multiple contractor of the yerar awardss for basement remodels WBCDS since 2006 Free Estimates Call Jordon 720-979-6933 Licensed and Insured

Carpentry HOME RENOVATION EXPERTS New framing, remodel, kitchens, bathrooms, drywall repair, decks, patios, fences. Free estimates. Reasonable rates. JDB Enterprises. Call Dale, 303-748-7202.

Handyman HOME REPAIRS & REMODELING Household repairs, remodeling projects, drywall, floor & wall tile, interior trim, plumbing repairs, vinyl installation, locks, caulking, cabinets, countertops, bathroom remodels, basements, new faucets, garbage disposals, wall patching, texturing, interior painting & much more! Top quality. Reasonable rates. Call Mike at 303-587-2610.

Lawn/Garden Services PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR SERVICES

Evergreens, shrubs & trees; planted, trimmed, removed. Aeration; sprinkler repair; Gardens; natural rock or block walls; Sod & rock installed/removed; Fence repair. Snow Removal! Lic. & Ins. Dick, 303-783-9000.

CLEAN-UPS/ YARD MAINTENANCE/ SNOW REMOVAL Hauling and yard clean-up. Longtime Baker neighborhood resident; 30 yrs. exp. Insured, references.

Free estimates. Call Lou R. Varlaro, 303-868-1539.

ROSS TREE COMPANY 40 years of caring for trees in the Washington Park neighborhood.

Pruning, planting, large tree removal, deep root watering, fertilizing and insect control. 303-871-9121 www.rosstree.net

Moving/Storage GATE CITY MOVING Local home & office moving.

We’re competent, fast, and in the neighborhood. Rates: $108/hr., 2 men and moving van. Inquire about statewide moves. 306 Washington St. 303-744-8692.

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Organizing Services

Tree Service

Virtual Organizing

A-1 Stump Removal

If you'd like some help organizing spaces in your home, but still hesitate to have outsiders in your home, why not try Virtual Organizing?

Contact Claudia at WOW! Organized! to learn more. Claudia@WowOrganized.com or 720.273.5693.

Stump grinding specialist

Most stumps $75.00 Call $55 Minimum.

Free estimates. or Licensed & Insured. text 39 years experience.

Painting BAUER PRO-PAINTING EST. 1996 We use only the highest quality materials from prep to paint. Drywall, plaster repair, replace damaged wood. A+ rating with BBB. Insured.

303-733-2870 or bauerpropainting@ gmail.com.

Plumbing Plumbing Repairs Leaking drains, water pipes, dripping faucets Replace - faucets, disposals, toilet wax rings, flapper & flow valves, dishwashers, & hot water heaters. 720-530-7586

10% off when coupon presented

A father and son team!

Call Terry or Corey 303-424-7357

Windows Double hung window RESTORATION includes replacing sash cords, removal of excess paint on wood and metal, plus lubrication. Also restore metal casement windows. David 720-550-2786.

Storage GARAGE SPACES FOR RENT UNIVERSITY & EVANS 9’x19’, $150/MO. Call 303-9481717 or Paul, 720-331-3611.

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

Buy Local!

For Local News Anytime of the Day Visit OurColoradoNews.com

For Local News Anytim of the Day Visit OurColoradoNews.com

No Clipping Required.

The AARP®Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford.1 Saving is easy! With this policy, experienced drivers who switch save an average of $449* in the first year alone — and they get all the benefits and privileges you’d expect with the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. Your own savings could actually be greater.

■ 24/7 claims service ■ Lifetime renewability†

96%

■ Lock in your rate for a full 12 months ■ New car replacement§§

of customers recommend The Hartford**

FREE duffel bag when you request your free quote!***

Not an AARP member? If you’re 50 or over, request a FREE quote and more information today!

ON AVERAGE, AARP MEMBERS ENJOY

$449*

SAVINGS

ON AUTO INSURANCE

when they switch from companies like

GEICO, State Farm and Allstate Your savings could be even more!

Call The Hartford 1-855-931-4974

The only national auto insurance program endorsed by AARP.

Call The Hartford now to request a FREE money-saving quote.

1-855-931-4974 No coupon necessary.

* Savings amounts are averages based on information from The Hartford’s AARP Auto Insurance Program customers who became new auto insurance policyholders between 1/1/18 and 12/31/18 and provided data regarding their savings and prior carrier. Your savings may vary. ** Based on customer experience reviews shared online at www.thehartford.com/aarp as of April 2019. *** The gift offer is good for first time responders who provide a valid email address. Responders will be sent an email to confirm the gift. All responders in IA, IL, MA and RI who do not provide an email address are still eligible to receive the gift The gift offer is not available in GA, ND, NM or PA, but residents may still request a quote. The gift is available only as a limited time offer. Please allow 4-7 weeks for delivery. Bottle not included. † If you are age 50 or older, once you’re insured through this Program for ait least 60 days, you cannot be refused renewal as long as applicable premiums are paid when due. Also, you and other customary drivers of your vehicles must retain valid licenses, remain physically and mentally capable of operating an automobile (not applicable in MA), have no convictions for driving while intoxicated and must not have obtained your policy through material misrepresentation.

Benefit currently not available in HI, MI, NH, NC and TX. §§ Limitations apply.

AARP and its affliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states.

The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in CA by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MN, by Sentinel Insurance Company; and in MA, MI and PA, by Trumbull Insurance Company. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. The program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions.

1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, through Hartford Fire General Agency. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. 006131

Washington Park Profile 23

July 2020

adopting, keeping animals

Pet owners

during COVID-19 Metro area shelters say they have fewer available animals than previous years

By Casey Van Divier cvandivier@coloradocommunitymedia.com

M

ay 26 marked the first day that the Denver Animal Shelter reopened its animal adoptions after more than two months of suspending the process during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That day, hundreds of customers showed up interested in adopting a new pet, said Tracy Koss, the shelter’s customer care manager.

“Part of it was that it was the first day and part of it was that we had two popular dog breeds available,” Koss said of the large number of customers. “The very next day, it was very light traffic and has remained that way due to the lack of animals; we only have three to five (available for adoption) per day,” she said, while on average, the shelter can have anywhere from 75 to 100 animals available for adoption at one time.

“In times of turmoil or uncertainty, people tend to hold onto their animals,” she said, “so I think we could be seeing that here.”

Nationwide and across the Denver metro area, animal shelters have seen a decrease in the number of people surrendering their animals to shelters, even as many shelters have stayed open for surrenders throughout the pandemic. At the same time, the percentage of available animals that have been adopted has increased.

At cat shelter Angels with Paws in Lakewood, in a usual week, the shelter oversees one or two adoptions, said kennel technician Rachel Jones. But from March 1 through June 17, there were 76 cats adopted from the shelter, or an average of about five adoptions per week.

“We’ve seen a huge jump in adoptions,” Jones said, “and we actually saw a big jump in adoption of our less adoptable animals with special needs.”

According to the Shelter Animals Count database, shelters took in 912,143 animals from January to May 2019. Only 691,760 were taken in during the same period for 2020. The count receives data from 1,207 organizations nationwide.

For the same timeframes, the number of adopted animals has also decreased. However, the percentage of available animals that were adopted increased from about 51% in 2019 to about 58% in 2020.

“For the past several months, adoption numbers have started to decrease, but as a percentage of intake they remain very high,” said Jim Tedford, president and CEO of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement. The association is made up of leaders running shelters and rescue groups across the nation.

These trends have been a necessity for shelters, Koss said — especially in the months when shelters were required to run operations with fewer staff members because of the coronavirus.

“It could have been a really scary situation with a lot of animals coming in. We

A staff member at the Dumb Friends League takes a photo with an adoptable pet, Indiana, during the COVID-19 crisis.

COURTESY OF DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE

were prepared for that and never saw it,” Koss said. “We just really want to thank the Denver community. They kept their animals.”

As for why intake is down and a higher percentage of available animals are being adopted, some shelter employees and new pet-owners point to the pandemic.

Frank Carlson from Aurora was one of those who adopted a Denver pet on May 26, saying that as a single person, he had been feeling isolated, particularly after being laid off from his job because of COVID-19.

Carlson’s eleven-month-old Australian cattle dog, Tom Brady, is the first dog he’s owned in 30 years.

“It was either a dog or a girlfriend, so I picked a dog,” he laughed. “Mainly, I wanted the exercise because I was just hanging around, and the companionship as well.”

Many recent animal adopters who found

a new pet at the Dumb Friends League, which has locations in Denver and Castle Rock, have given similar reasons to Carlson’s for why they wanted to adopt, said Maia Brusseau, the league’s interim director of marketing and communications.

“I know that we have heard from some people that they were thinking of adopting anyway, and then all of a sudden, they have this extra time on their hands,” she said.

“And for some, if you’re living alone, it can be very lonely without a pet.”

The Dumb Friends League has only been conducting virtual adoptions to help keep residents safe throughout the pandemic.

The process takes more time to complete than the typical process, she said, and the league has encountered huge public interest in adoptions. As such, the shelters have been asking those who would like to adopt to expect a slightly longer wait before their

SIXTH AVENUE BEAUTY SALON Catering to “Senior Citizens”

GATE CITY MOVING SINCE 1976

• Family Owned & Operated • Reasonable Rates • Local & Throughout Colorado

306 Washinton 303-744-8692

STILL OFFERING THE SAME GREAT FULL SERVICE & STYLISTS

adoption can take place.

Another request of adopting residents: “We’re asking people to think about what their lives will be like when we go back to whatever normal looks like,” Brusseau said.

“Think about that so you are prepared for changes and setting your pet up for success whenever you’re going back to work.”

As for pet-owners like Carlson, adjusting to having a pet in the house is already going well, he said. While COVID-19 has brought up some new challenges he never faced as a previous dog-owner — for example, the vast majority of off-leash parks near him are closed — he emphasized that the experience has been a very beneficial lifestyle change.

“It’s been great. It’s kind of like having a family member,” Carlson said. “I would advise anyone else in my situation to adopt a dog. They’re a great companion for times of isolation.”

Schumacher Accounting & Tax Service •Tax Preparation •Bookkeeping •Financial Statements

(Manicurists too)

Convenient Free & Handicapped Parking

FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS

20% OFF ANY SERVICE

925 S. Niagara St., #430 303-777-5341 Call for an appointment

1895 So. Pearl St. Denver, CO 80210 303-777-5535 FAX: 303-777-6350 www.shoetax.com

24 Washington Park Profile

July 2020

MORE SAFETY. LESS STRESS. PROTECTED LANES MAKE DENVER SAFER FOR ALL OF US. Today in Denver, there are more people than ever driving cars, taking buses and riding bikes, walking to parks, going jogging, and pushing strollers. So it’s important we all support the new protected lanes that are making the Mile High City safer, smarter and more connected. By designing the street better, we gain a whole lot more in safety. Plus we get more control, more separation and protection, more peace for all of us, and more connections to the people, places and spaces we love in our city.

Support safer streets at