Washington Park Profile 1119

NOVEMBER 2019

Digital and print community newspaper founded in 1978.

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GETTING NEW LIFE Possibilities explored for long-vacant property

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ATHLETIC ACHIEVERS Wash Park youths participate in the first triathlon event

P25 MONITORING FOLIAGE DENVER FACING FOES LAKES Bugs and climate

FIRE UP THE ROTISSERIE

City officials keep tabs on lakes at Wash Park

change pose dangers to Denver’s tree canopy

A Q&A with Chook Chicken owner Alex Seidel

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2 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

Business Matters

By Kailyn Lamb | klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

DEVELOPMENT Junction Food & Drink A new food hall has been announced near Interstate 25 and Colorado Boulevard. The building is set to be 12,000 square feet and will open in the spring.

Junction will be located at 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. It will have 10 restaurant stalls inside. So far, two have been announced: Shawarma Shack and Grind and Grill Burgers.

According to the food hall’s website, there will also be a coffee shop and a 40foot bar located inside Junction. For more information on the project, go to http:// www.junctionfoodanddrink.com.

BUSINESS OPENINGS Sukiya Ramen Sukiya Ramen, a restaurant based in Greenwood Village, is opening a second location in the former Fat Jack’s Supersubs

space on Broadway.

The Greenwood Village location serves ramen, poke and donburi bowls, which are made of meat served over rice. The Baker neighborhood restaurant is located at 450 Broadway. The Sukiya website lists the location as coming soon, but does not have an opening date.

Fat Jack’s closed all three of its locations late last year. After the restaurant closed, signs were posted on the Baker neighborhood door stating that Fat Jack’s owners owed $2,300 in taxes for that location.

Rosy Rings The home fragrance store opened its first brick and mortar location in Cherry Creek last month. The store is located at 2940 E. Sixth Ave. “Rosy Rings is beyond excited to open its first store front location in beautiful Cherry Creek,” said Rosy Rings CEO and founder Shannon Cumberland in a news release. “We hope this will be the first of many stores and we look forward to serving the locals and visitors of the city.”

Products at Rosy Rings are handmade with botanical ingredients. In addition to the retail portion of the store, Rosy Rings will also offer craft classes such as candle and wreath making.

SEE BUSINESS, P3

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Rosy Rings Studio recently opened in the Cherry Creek North neighborhood. The store will also offer seasonal classes such as candlemaking.

COURTESY OF LIZ TORRES

Washington Park Profile 3

November 2019

Business FROM PAGE 2

Bruno’s Italian Bistro Bruno’s Italian Bistro is coming back on the scene after closing on South Monaco Parkway last year.

This iteration of the restaurant will open at 560 S. Broadway.

The restaurant was open for 20 years at its South Monaco location. Bruno’s will be replacing Mario’s Ocean Club, which closed over the summer.

Somebody People The Mediterranean-inspired vegan restaurant opened at 1165 S. Broadway in late September.

The restaurant offers a cafe menu from opening until 2 p.m. The restaurant then switches to a dinner menu at 5. Somebody People also offers a special chef ’s selection with a set menu for $35 and $25 on Sundays.

The restaurant has a zero waste initiative, and does not have disposable packaging for leftovers.

Somebody People allows customers to bring in their own containers or it sells metal options.

Goodheart Animal Health Center The new veterinary office is set to open at 389 S. Broadway.

Goodheart Animal Health Center is in a newly renovated 90-yearold building. The renovations include a glass wall that lets own-

ers view their pets while they are being treated.

“This new space will improve transparency — literally and figuratively,” said Mark Hafen, an architect who designs animal health spaces.

Dr. Beth Spencer will lead the Goodheart team.

Marczyk Fine Foods After the deal for Tony’s Market to open off of Hampden Avenue fell through, Marczyk Fine Foods is set to lease the space. It will open in late 2020 in the former Safeway space at the Happy Canyon Shopping Center.

It will be a third location for the market, with the other two located off of East 17th Avenue and Colfax Avenue, respectively.

Unlike the other two, the third will not have commercial kitchen.

Happy Canyon is located at 4960 E. Hampden Ave. Tony’s Market posted on its website that it would not be opening at the Hampden location due to contract issues.

“At this time, Tony’s will not be opening a new location in the Cherry Hills shopping center, though we remain excited for future projects,” the update said.

Close Quarters Close Quarters coffee shop will be replacing the White Whale Room, a coffee shop and bar that closed earlier this year.

Like the White Whale, Close

Quarters will offer beer on tap in addition to its coffee menu.

The coffee shop is located at 415 Cherokee St. Orangetheory Fitness The gym moved into a spot formerly held by Hapa Sushi in the Cherry Creek North neighborhood. It is located at 2780 E. Second Ave. Orangetheory is a Florida-based gym chain with franchise locations across the United States.

Hapa Sushi moved over the summer to a new location in Cherry Creek just two blocks east.

CLOSINGS

first opened in October 2017.

Blue Pebble Handcrafted Food and Drinks After five months in business, Pistol Whip, a new American restaurant on Santa Fe Drive, has switched over to Blue Pebble Handcrafted Food and Drinks.

Blue Pebble is located at 698 Santa Fe Drive. Pistol Whip was first opened earlier this year by a couple who owns the tattoo shop next store. The Denver Post reported in September that the couple were looking to sell the space. It was sold to Rick Carney, a restaurateur with locations in Denver and Durango.

Endorphin The gym chain closed its Washington Park location last month, less than a year after closing down a location in Englewood. The gym was located at 66 S. Logan St. and

Bang Salon Bang Salon in Washington Park recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The business held an open house at the end of September for the occasion. Bang Salon is located at 1207 E. Alameda Ave.

Bang Salon owners Rodger and Lisa Garcia, center, celebrate 20 years of business in Washington Park with Park Hill owner, Sandy Dreckman, left, and Stacy Kelley.

COURTESY PHOTO

er #1 rse rok ve B o Re age orad tg Col or in

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Charcoal Bistro Charcoal Bistro recently celebrated three years on South Gaylord. The restaurant is located at 1028 S. Gaylord St.

The Tended Thicket The 45-year-old European-style boutique and gift shop if set to close, according to its website.

“For the last 45 years, it has been a pleasure to have you as friends and neighbors,” The Tended Thicket site says. “Sadly, we have lost our lease and this holiday season will be our last.”

The shop is located at 1034 Gaylord St. in the Washington Park neighborhood. The store is having a closing sale starting Nov. 1.

Attention Seniors: More Cash for the Holidays

by Kathy Muni The holiday season is upon us once again. A season filled with festivities, memories, decorations, and for most, added costs.

Whether it is gifts for loved ones, travel expenses to visit family, or admission fees to special experiences. (The Nutcracker with your ballet-obsessed granddaughter, perhaps?) This time of year can get expensive. Especially for seniors on a fixed income.

If you are 62+ and a homeowner, there is a solution that can put cash in your pocket in time for the seasonal festivities—and every month thereafter! A reverse mortgage can eliminate your monthly mortgage payment, freeing up a substantial amount of cash. (You are still responsible for property taxes and homeowners insurance.)

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4 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

From yard

waste to compost

Denver program helps remove nearly 900 tons of leaves from landfills

WHERE TO DROP YOUR LEAVES

By Bruce Goldberg Special to Colorado Community Media

Going green (or greener)? Then consider participating in the annual Denver LeafDrop program that’s happening now, and you may help keep tons of stuff out of landfills and boost your garden’s production.

See all those leaves on your lawn and in the street? You can stuff them into environmentally friendly paper bags supplied by LeafDrop, and they’ll eventually become part of the popular EcoGro Compost, which is great for gardens. Leaves can be dropped off at collection sites or placed in residents’ Denver Compost carts.

Last year, the city collected about 889 tons of leaves, which is the equivalent of 2,000 cubic yards of compost. LeafDrop has been around since 1997.

“We want to make sure leaves get picked up,” said Megan Lane, program administrator for Denver Recycles, a program of the Solid Waste Management Division under

The Denver Recycles program is providing five free compostable bags for its annual LeafDrop program. Drop off sites can be found throughout the city and will be turned into compost.

COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC WORKS the Public Works Department.

“Instead of residents putting bags of leaves at the curb, where they would be taken to a landfill, we’re trying to encourage residents to sign up for our composting program.”

Compost can also be a gardener’s best friend.

“Unless you have healthy soil, your plants won’t thrive,” said Jennifer Miller, a horticulturist at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Weekday drop sites, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Dec. 6: • Cherry Creek Transfer Station, 7301 E. Jewell Ave., at South Quebec Street • Havana Nursery, 10450 Smith Road, at Havana Street Weekend drop sites, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Nov. 2-17: • Bruce Randolph High School, 3955 Steele St., at East 40th Avenue • Cherry Creek Transfer Station • Havana Nursery • Kennedy High School, 2855 S. Lamar St., at Newland Street and Brown Place • Sloan’s Lake Park, 1700 N. Sheridan Blvd., entrance on 17th Avenue • Veterans Park, 2100 E. Iowa Ave., at South Vine Street You can find a coupon for the compostable paper bags at DenverGov.org/LeafDrop or on a LeafDrop flyer.

Colorado has a lot of clay soil and sandy soil, neither good for growing plants.

“Compost creates good soil structure, helps germinate seeds and allows roots to grow in soil,” Miller

said. “In addition, compost increases microbial activity, which makes plants healthy.”

Denver resident Maggie Thompson top-dresses her lawn twice a year with EcoGro Compost.

“It makes my lawn require less water,” she said. “With our clay soil, it helps my soil be less dense. It also provides good nutrition and probiotic qualities.”

Denver Recycles, Ace Hardware and the forestry section of Denver Parks and Recreation (through the Be A Smart Ash campaign) team up to provide the leaf bags. They are giving away free five-packs of 30-gallon paper leaf bags.

Brown paper bags, unlike plastic bags, can be composted along with the leaves, thus reducing plastic waste and saving time. The Be A Smart Ash campaign is designed to help residents identify ash trees and take steps to prevent them from being damaged by the emerald ash borer beetle.

The program offered about 5,000 packs annually up until last year, when that number jumped to 12,000.

Denver Recycles said that organic material — such as leaves, branches, grass clippings and food scraps — comprises about 50% of what Denver residents send to the landfill annually.

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Washington Park Profile 5

November 2019

Knocking on New Doors Preferred Properties Joins Compass

Dear Neighbors, After 45 years in the Washington Park neighborhood, Preferred Properties has joined Compass, an award-winning real estate brokerage. This exciting transition allows us to pair our long-standing tradition of excellent local service with the most innovative real estate technology available.

We’re making the move from Wash Park to Cherry Creek in order to better serve you in your next move. Curious to learn more? Give us a call today! —Your Friends at Preferred Properties 303.536.1786 | compass.com

6 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

The spirit of Halloween

T

Parade on Broadway continues to grow in third year

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

urning the corner from West Fifth Avenue onto Broadway, nearly 50 floats made up of local organizations and businesses participated in this year’s Broadway Halloween Parade.

The floats traveled a little less than a mile south down Broadway toward Alameda Avenue. Local marching bands, “Thriller” dancers, a train of hearse cars and even Parrot Heads and bumblebees took over the street for the event, lead by Councilmember Jolon Clark riding his bike in costume.

Erin Claxton, who helps to organize the parade with the Broadway Merchants Association, said that the parade has grown in more ways than one over the years.

The first year, the parade started at Third Avenue. The association decided to expand to Fifth in order to include more of the businesses on that section of Broadway.

Attendance has also grown by leaps and bounds, Claxton said.

“Our first year, we had no idea what to expect,” she said. “We would have been happy if 1,000 people came.”

Instead, 2,500 people attended the first year. That number jumped to 15,000 in the second year. Claxton estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 attended this year’s parade on Saturday, Oct. 19. She added that the Broadway Merchants Association partners with the Denver Police Department for event safety, and that they also provide crowd estimates.

The association opened the event up to different types of vendors this year, which meant the parade had more floats, Claxton said.

Three years ago, the businesses in the association wanted to come together to create a community event that would highlight the different shops available on Broadway. Claxton said that many people already know about the bar and restaurant scene along the corridor, but that they wanted people to learn more about the retail businesses as well. A Halloween event seemed like the perfect opportunity.

“Denver is well known for the Parade of Lights and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade but there’s never been anything this,” Claxton said. “We want it to be a community-friendly event that brings together this eclectic and funky vibe that Baker Broadway has.”

For the Fraser family, the event is a fun opportunity to take the kids out and enjoy the parade. Their daughters, Sienna and Nicole, dressed up in their costumes and collected candy from the floats as they passed by them.

Melissa Fraser said this is the second year the family has attended the parade. She said she enjoys it because “it’s fun to watch everybody get in the spirit.”

Many of the businesses that participate in the parade, spend months on their theme and costumes.

Members of the nearby Overland Park Neighborhood Association picked pollinators as their theme, towing a flowery trailer as bee-dressed residents handed out honey candy and flower seeds.

The Wizard’s Chest, a costume and gaming store located at 451 Broadway, had a tarot card theme. Bridget Doyle, a staff member at the store, began sewing the costumes back in July. This is the store’s third year participating in the event. They were joined this year by Koven, a local drag group.

Doyle said that because Halloween is one of the store’s busiest times of year, many of the staff members don’t go out on the actual holiday. The parade is their opportunity to celebrate and show off their costumes.

Another group that Claxton said has participated every year is the local chapter of the Parrot Heads in Paradise, a charitable organization influenced by the tropical lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett.

Claxton said that her favorite part about the parade every year is to see the costumes and themes that people come up with.

“We felt that this year that everybody brought their A game,” she said. “Everyone has their own idea of what Halloween means to them.”

Ronnie Crawford sits in a trailer for the Platte Park Pollinators, a float organized by the Overland Park Neighborhood Association. The group handed out candy and flower seeds during the Halloween Parade.

PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB

Sienna Fraser, right, grabs a package from a Broadway Parade participant. Melissa Fraser, Sienna’s mom, said the family enjoys coming out for the parade and seeing the community getting into the Halloween spirit.

The Wizard’s Chest float had a tarot card theme this year. Wizard’s Chest, another business on Broadway, has participated in the parade for the last three years.

Charlie Schealer blows bubbles during the Halloween parade on Broadway. Schealer was walking with Hope Tank, a business based on Broadway. The parade allows local businesses and nonprofits to participate for free.

Steve Wright holds his son Nolan on his shoulders, along with his other children, Annabelle, left, and Collin. The family dressed as different Spiderman characters for the third annual Broadway Halloween Parade in the Baker neighborhood.

Washington Park Profile 7

November 2019

A new d ay for Evans Avenue

‘Perfect storm’ helped pave way for Kmart site to be redeveloped

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

For nearly seven years, a large property off of East Evans Avenue and South Monaco Parkway has sat empty. The former Kmart building has been an eyesore for residents and city officials alike. But now that a local developer has closed on the property, people are hopeful for what the future might hold.

The sale of the building, located at 2150 S. Monaco St. Parkway, was for $10.5 million, according to county records, and included the parking lot. Forum Real Estate Group, a Glendale-based developer that has a resume of residential and commercial projects, was the buyer.

Teresa Hanson, the vice president of brand strategy with Forum, said the company recently closed on the land acquisition and is working on finishing the entitlements process with the city. That could take more than a year, she said.

Hanson Because of the long timeline ahead, staff at Forum have been trying to think of different ways to use the parking lot portion of the property in the meantime.

“We’re going to want to engage with the community as much as we can,” Hanson said. “We’re trying to look at different ways to activate the site while we’re in this 12-18 month process.”

Some of the ideas so far have been to host farmers markets, Christmas tree sales or food trucks.

Because the property has sat empty for so many years, Hanson said Forum will likely demolish the building and start fresh on the nearly 13-acre piece of land.

Because they don’t plan on using the building, the company has considered offering to use it as training space for first responders or firefighters.

Since it is so early in the process, Forum has not made any official decisions on what to build there. Hanson said it could be a combination of retail and residential and

The 13-acre property which used to have a Kmart store at East Evans Avenue and South Monaco Parkway was recently purchased by Forum Real Estate Group. The property has been vacant for nearly seven years.

COURTESY OF FORUM REAL ESTATE GROUP include some green space.

Kendra Black, the councilmember representing District 4 where the property is, said she was excited to hear about the sale. For a long time the empty Kmart building was one of the top complaints or inquiries she Black would receive in her office.

Black said she was “looking at a lot of different routes to move the needle,” including a blight study.

Part of the problem was that until earlier this year, Sears Holdings — the parent company that runs both Sears and Kmart — was still paying rent on the building, Black said. The Kmart closed in 2013, and Black added that there was no motivation for the owners to sell since rent was still coming in. It wasn’t until Sears Holdings declared bankruptcy in October 2018 that there was the potential to get a new buyer into the building.

Nancy Barlow, the president of the East Evans Business Association, said the bankruptcy created the “perfect storm” for the owner of the building to sell to Forum.

Barlow added that business owners from the association were “relieved” to hear about the sale, and are hoping that new development happening on that property will create a ripple effect for other potential developments. More developments in the area will bring more people to shop the businesses there.

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on the upcoming project at the former Kmart site at 2150 S. Monaco St. Parkway, go to https://monacoevansdenver.com/ “I think this is just the beginning of what’s to come,” Barlow said. “We need the attention badly.”

Black agreed, saying “that section of Evans all the way to I-25 is really just not very nice.” She’s also hopeful for more development to come in once this project gets started. Walkability is also one of her goals for any potential projects that Forum builds there.

Building green space Both Barlow and Maggie Janco from the Development Review Committee of the Cook Park Neighborhood, said they are hopeful for some open or green space when the project goes underway.

Because of the new green roof laws in Denver, Black said Forum is required to have some sort of green space. The Goldsmith Gulch is also on the property for stormwater detention, and Black said it cannot be covered up. Barlow is hoping the gulch can be opened up and used as a green asset for the community.

Access to the High Line Canal, a 71-mile trail system that follows its namesake canal through several Colorado counties and cities, is nearby to the property. Hanson, who lives in the area herself, said that green space will likely be part of whatever Forum

decides to do with the property.

“Part of our goals are to do something that gives a little bit of beauty and some greenery in a little bit of a concrete jungle,” she said.

Hanson said that as they get closer to deciding on what to do with the property, Forum will reach out to the community for ideas and input. A few residents have already started reaching out after the news of the sale, she added. The District 4 office will work to get any information out to residents living nearby to the project, Black said.

Although Janco is excited for the project, she and her neighbors in Cook Park also have concerns about how large developments will impact traffic in the area. She’s also hopeful that the project avoids strip malls and chain stores, something that’s already common in the area.

Hanson said that the staff at Forum see many of the same possibilities as the people who have begun reaching out to them about the property. Because the area is so highly trafficked, she added that the property has the potential for strong curb appeal.

“We’re going to do our due diligence and do our homework,” she said. “It’s going to be a fun project to work on.”

Food, fund drive aims to help veterans and their families Donations will be accepted through Veterans Day Staff report A food and fund drive that aims to bring awareness to food insecurity among families of veterans and military members is collecting donations through

Veterans Day. According to a news release, one in five households served by a local food bank has at least one member who has served or is now serving in the U.S. military.

Food insecurity means lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

In the United States, food insecurity affects 1 in 8 people, according to the release. Food insecurity is a social determinant of health, which are conditions

in people’s environments that can affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

Last year, Humana partnered with Feeding America — the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States — to stage a series of events that drove food donations and raised awareness of food insecurity with a focus on helping veterans. Food Bank of the Rockies is part of Feeding America’s network of

food banks and has teamed up the Humana to partner for this year’s drive.

Nonperishable food will be collected through Nov. 11 at locations in the Denver area. In addition, monetary donations also are being accepted. Every $10 donation helps Food Bank of the Rockies provide 40 meals.

Donations can be made at http:// fbr.convio.net/goto/humanafooddrive.

Food donations can be taken

to: • Humana, 6300 S. Syracuse Way, Centennial • Morning Story Restaurant, 560 S. Holly St., Denver • Iora Primary Care locations in Arvada, 8175 N. Sheridan Blvd., Unit N; in Lakewood, 1692 Wadsworth Blvd.; and in south Jefferson County, 8246 W. Bowles Ave. For other locations, go to ioraprimarycare.com/practicelocator/

8 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

The road to end mental health stigma Scott Masters hopes to raise $10,000 by running 10K daily

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

For more than two months, Scott Masters has gotten up, no matter the weather, and headed outside to run a 10K — 6.2 miles. In 67 days, he’s racked up 436 miles, and along the way he’s raised about half of his goal for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

For most of his life, Masters said he has dealt with anxiety and depression.

While his 10K to $10K campaign does have a financial gift to a mental health group, Masters hopes to do more in building awareness. “I just want people to understand that it’s OK to have these disorders,” he said of his daily runs.

Masters blogs about each of his runs on his real estate website. In many ways, the daily runs have become a metaphor for his own issues with mental health, he said. There are good days, and there are bad ones.

“You wake up some days and you say, ‘I don’t want to do this,’” Masters said. “I’m not just going to post the happy things. Having a bad day is OK.” In the United States, Masters said, mental health disorders can often be seen as a weakness. While other countries allow employees time off to

d n o c Se l a u n An

TO LEARN MORE To learn more about Scott Masters’ donation campaign for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, go to https://donate.nami.org/fundraiser/2251857. To follow Masters on his road to run 10K a day, go to http:// mastersreg.com/10kto10k/. take care of themselves mentally, most businesses here would not allow for that, he said.

“Mental health can be a sickness,” Masters said, adding that people can’t perform their jobs at their highest levels when they’re struggling with anxiety, depression or any number of other mental health disorders.

As part of his campaign, Masters shared his own story on his donation page about dealing with mental health disorders.

“I recently went through the worst year of my life,” he wrote. “At age 40, I felt like I had no control over what I did or what I was thinking. I lost everything that I spent my life trying to build. I was lost in a cloud of darkness and I couldn’t find my way out.”

Because of the stigmas against mental health issues, Masters said it was very difficult to begin writing his story, and then put it out there for the world to see. It was particularly hard for him to share the story with his parents.

But as he’s kept going, lacing up his

shoes every day for a run, Masters said he started receiving comments from people saying they had similar issues in their lives. Knowing that has helped keep him going, Masters said.

Now that he has shared the story with his parents, they’ve been supportive. His dad has joined him on a few runs, Masters said. He also has two children, a son and a daughter, whom he hopes will learn a valuable lesson from his running campaign.

Masters has also joined a running club with the Platte Park Brewing Co., saying “it’s helped just to be around people.”

As of press time for the November issue of the Washington Park Profile, Masters has raised $5,551 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Masters said he will keep running those 6 miles daily until he’s raised the $10,000. He’s also hoping his story will inspire more people to seek help or treatment.

Although he said he’s not sure how long it will take to raise the funds, getting outside for exercise is something that has helped him in his own “personal journey.” From his house, around Washington Park and back is almost exactly 6.2 miles.

He added that he’s a big believer in physical health being connected to mental health. Although the day may start with him not wanting to go out for a run, he’s usually “in a better spot” by the end of it.

“My mind is a lot clearer.”

In order to bring more awareness to mental health, Scott Masters began running 10k a day in the hopes of raising $10,000. Masters said he has dealt with depression and anxiety for most of his life.

COURTESY OF ALISHA LIGHT

Holiday

Craft Show and Mini-Market Admission is free to the public

Saturday Nov. 30

10am - 4pm

Sunday Dec. 1

10am - 2pm

Jefferson County Fairgrounds

15200 W. 6th Ave. Golden, CO.

Come shop for unique gifts and special items during the first-ever Colorado Community Media Holiday Craft Show and Mini-Market; With more than 100 exhibitors filling the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, this is the best place to find that special, personal gift for friends and family. The show will feature handmade crafts in all areas from metal and leather, to flowers, baskets, ceramics, and so much more.

Vendors Needed | Interested in selling your handmade crafts??

Contact Event Producer Thelma Grimes at tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com All applications must be approved to participate

Washington Park Profile 9

November 2019

Denver Water rates to be slightly higher in 2020 Customers can expect about a $1 a month increase to their bills Staff report Residents will see about a $1 increase in their monthly water bills after the Denver Board of Water Commissioners adopted rate changes to pay for upgrades and projects to keep Denver Water’s system operating ef-

ficiently.

The new rates will take effect Jan. 1.

“We continue to move forward on a series of major, multiyear projects to ensure we’re delivering safe, reliable water to our customers,” Denver Water CEO/Manager Jim Lochhead said in a news release. “Our rates will fund important projects like building a new state-ofthe-art water treatment plant and laboratory, expanding a key reservoir and the ongoing replacement of aging water pipes. While costs to maintain and upgrade this system continue to rise, we have worked to keep rate increases as small as possible.”

All residential customers will see a slight increase on both the fixed monthly charge and the price per gallon. Inside Denver, a customer using 103,000 gallons as they did in 2019 would see an overall rise in the monthly bill of about $1, according to the release.

Customers outside the city using that volume would see a monthly increase between $1.15 and $1.36 per month.

Denver Water’s five-year, $1.4 billion capital plan includes about 140 major projects that are focused on maintaining or upgrading infrastructure and ensuring the utility has the flexibility needed to ensure a reliable water

supply as weather patterns in the future veer from the past and the population grows, the release said.

According to the release, among the most important projects receiving money from water rates are: a new, state-of-the-art water treatment plant; installing a new 8.5-mile water pipeline to replace a pipeline that was built in the 1930s; expanding Gross Reservoir to provide a more reliable future water supply; constructing a new water quality lab to ensure Denver Water is meeting the highest quality standards; and investing more than $148 million to repair and replace water pipes.

Application period open for 2020 Daniels Scholarship Staff Report The Daniels Fund has opened its annual application process for the Daniels Scholarship Program. Students must turn in an application by Nov. 15 at 4 p.m., according to a news release for the organization.

The Daniels Fund has given out more than $188 million in scholarships since launching the program in 2000.

This four-year, annually renewable college

scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship which covers the unmet need of the student after all other financial aid resources and their Expected Family Contribution have been applied, the news release said. The scholarships can be used at any accredited college or university in the United States.

The eligibility requirements for the scholarship include: • Be a current high school senior graduating during the 2019/2020 academic year from a high school in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah,

or Wyoming.

• Be a current resident of one of these four states and a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. Earn a minimum 3.0 high school GPA (on an unweighted 4.0 scale).

Earn a minimum SAT Math score of 490 and a minimum Evidence-Based Reading & Writing score of 490, or a minimum ACT score of 18 in each category (writing score not required). Super scoring is not accepted.

The applicant’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s)

must have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $85,000 or less on a 2018 tax return on which the applicant appears. For claimed dependents beyond the applicant, there is an allowance for an additional $5,000 for each dependent and $15,000 for each additional dependent in college full-time during the 2019/2020 academic year.

For more information on the scholarship, including what items are needed to apply, go to https://www.danielsfund.org/scholarships/ daniels-scholarship-program/overview.

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10 Washington Park Profile

LOCAL

VOICES Call out your family members T he holiday season is once again upon us. While for some it means cheery meals and warm conversation, for others it can mean the dread of awkward conversations with our family members.

We all hear the stories of racist uncles or sexist grandparents: the relatives we just can’t bring ourselves to say something to simply because they’re family. But we know we should.

I recently was brought face-first with this issue myself. A young cousin of mine used the term “that’s autistic” on social media in the same vein as “that’s retarded” or “that’s gay.” To say I was shocked that my cousin said this is an understatement. We have someone in our family with autism. What if my cousin had said it out loud at a family event rather than on social media?

FROM THE EDITOR

Kailyn Lamb

I spent the rest of the night fuming, trying to decide what to do. Should I respond to the post? Should I contact my cousin’s parents?

You can argue that my cousin is a teenager, and that teenagers say stupid things. But teenagers that get away with saying stupid things now grow up to become adults who think they can get away with saying inexcusable things.

I know for a fact that when I was a kid I said stupid things. The reason I remember is because my mom would always call me out on anything I said that perpetuated negative stereotypes. She wouldn’t wait until it was just the two of us, she’d call me out as soon as it came out of my mouth. This was thoroughly embarrassing to my teenage self, but it also taught me a pretty valuable lesson. Just because it’s a “trendy” thing to say, does that make it right?

November 2019

In the age of social media, people increasingly believe that they are free to say anything they want online.

While freedom of speech does allow you to say, for example, nasty things about your boss on your Facebook page, it does not protect you from the consequences — i.e. getting fired when your boss sees the post.

With family gatherings, we are more willing to protect those we love from the consequences of what they say. We tell ourselves that our older relatives are just set in their ways. Or, we are protecting ourselves from the unpleasant interaction of telling your cousin, your aunt, or even your own parents that something they’ve said is not right.

But unless those conversations are had, the people around us will not learn. Sometimes we need to have someone embarrass us, to call us out when we say something. We need to learn that the first thing that pops into our head is not always a nice thing.

Denver needs better solutions for housing homeless

I How locals can make an impact on climate change ENVIRONMENT WITH EAN

Ean Thomas Tafoya

I

am excited to be authoring the first installment in a monthly column on environmental issues.

Around the world and in Denver, people are taking to the streets for direct action to demand policy solutions for the climate crisis.

Make no mistake, this is a climate emergency. We must all mobilize in unprecedented numbers in order to transform our society in a way that leaves a better world for the future generations.

With the anxiety of the looming deadline (going on 11 years)

A publication of

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for action, it can be overwhelming. Where do you start and how can we reach the goals outlined by the International Panel on Climate Change? Conservation, water, equity, environmental justice, sustainability, resiliency, transportation, renewable energy, zoning, and building codes are just a few of the issues that needed to tackled in order make the change. It is my hope that this column can serve as a source of a relevant and timely issues that you SEE ENVIRONMENT, P11

t’s 30 degrees outside as I jot down my thoughts early on a Friday morning. It was even colder late last night. And it will be colder yet on Sunday when the temperatures are expected to rise no higher than the midto-high 20s GUEST throughout the COLUMN day. My car has “butt warmer” seats, for which I’m quite grateful, and I’ve got a warm sweater picked out so I won’t get chilled as I move from home to car, Councilmember car to office, Paul Kashmann and office to appointments throughout this brisk fall day.

And hundreds of our fellow Denverites slept outside last night.

And they will do so again tonight, tomorrow and Sunday. And probably every other night of this year. Many even when the mercury dives well

below zero.

Whether or not making the choice to sleep outside, rather than grab a bed — or a mat on a shelter floor when the beds get filled — is actually a matter of choice depends on your perspective. The story has been repeated often — Denver’s shelters are basically designed for single men and women. They do not welcome couples, families or people with pets, and are not particularly well suited to those with disabilities or health challenges as well as those in the LGBTQ community. And if you work at night, they are not open during the day to give you a place to rest.

Most are not equipped to allow “clients” to bring their belongings with them. And many are large facilities with up to hundreds packed into a single room, in beds that may be 18 inches apart. True privacy or quiet time are non-existent. Bed bugs may be a problem. There is no TV lounge if you’re the type that wakes up in the middle of the night and needs a few minutes of Netflix to get you back to sleep. And there’s no fridge close SEE KASHMANN, P32

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Washington Park Profile 11

November 2019

Environment FROM PAGE 10

can engage with — even with your busy schedule. Believe me, phone calls, emails, protests, petitions and citizens’ initiatives really do work!

A little about me: My birthday is Earth Day. As a child my mother told me it was honor and to think globally and act locally. I recall spending time at the library reading encyclopedia entries about the destruction of the planet and the awakening of the masses to the need for change. I spent my early activist career fighting for the purple dumpsters in parks, protected bike lanes on streets, and increased access to healthy foods in all communities.

I have worked for three branches of local government, run for Denver City Council, and have been part of the driving force for citizen based initiatives to effect change in our city and our state. One of note that people may recognize me from

is the Denver Green Roof Initiative. As the Deputy Director of the campaign we took on moneyed interests and the well connected. We succeeded in passing a law that aims to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, improve our air and water quality, and reduce our urban heat island.

Currently, I work for GreenLatinos, a national nonprofit that convenes a broadbased coalition of Latinx people around the country on conservation, public health, and environmental justice issues.

I serve as the secretary of the Environmental Caucus of the Young Democrats of America. In this role I work with my peers around the nation to drive federal policy.

I also am contributor to “Metro,” a public affairs radio talk show on KGNU. My topics solely focus on environmental, social and economic justice.

I am from Denver and I believe that at this moment we have the opportunity to lead this country and the world with sound policy solutions. I want to use this column to share my experience on what is working and what roadblocks stand in the way.

In the vein of living up to my goal in my first of the column, let’s start with a few hot topics that you can engage in today: Denver has committed to 100% renewable energy goals and has incorporated climate action into our lead planning document known as the comprehensive plan. Together with other organizers we have successfully pushed for the creation of the Office of Climate Change and Resiliency, a new cabinet level to organize our response the emergency. We have a plan and office, but what we are missing is the funding. The saying goes that if you want to live up to your values as a society then you will see it reflected in the budget appropriations. Mayor Michael B. Hancock has submitted a 2020 budget for $1.49 billion to the Denver City Council for review. Go online and check out the budget, and then call your elected officials to engage with budget decisions around climate issues. The process comes to a close in November with an opportunity for public comment on the budget decision.

Denver is also organizing a stakeholders

group to examine possible legislation for dedicated funding sources to enact policies. The current timeline has the group convening in December and bringing forth policy recommendations by May 2020. Follow this group, show up and testify, bring forth your ideas. Many hands make light work, and as I said, it is going to take all of our creativity for us to met the challenge. I look forward to the future of this column, and please reach out if there are topics that aren’t getting the attention they deserve.

Perhaps you are a procrastinator like me, and your creativity and work ethic kick into high gear at the 11th hour. Well the human race has waited until the end to take on the climate crisis, but I believe in you and me to get the job done. In closing, I would like to quote Dolores Huerta, who says, “A leader is the person that does the work. It is that simple.”

It’s time for you to lead.

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

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12 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

RTD maps future amid declining ridership Transit agency announces launch of effort to collect input from public

By Nick Puckett npuckett@coloradocommunitymedia.com

The Regional Transportation District has launched an outreach program to put a longterm plan in place for changes in transportation demands in the Denver area.

Reimagine RTD is a project aimed toward creating a vision for the transportation district as ridership is in decline. Ridership has declined from 103.4 million annual boardings in 2015 to 97.6 million annual boardings in 2018, despite RTD’s total operating budget increasing by more than 44% in that time frame, according to statistics found on RTD’s website, rtd-denver.com.

“The landscape is changing, and we need to change along with it,” said RTD CEO Dave Genova. “We know we have a big role to play in that, and how we integrate with other options.”

RTD will collect feedback from the public and consider expert consultation to determine a plan.

Christina Zazueta, community engagement manager for RTD, said this will provide input

own telephone town hall to solicit feedback.

Callers will be able to ask questions over the phone and answer questions about how to improve things like service demands, alternative transit options and RTD’s driver and rail operator shortage.

RTD is no stranger to complaints from rail and bus commuters regarding inconsistent arrival times and overall lack of service. RTD has said it does not have enough rail operators or bus drivers to handle RTD’s service demand.

RTD serves an area that spans eight counties with a total population of 3.1 million.

RTD owns 1,026 buses and has 58.5 miles of light rail track and 40 miles of commuter rail track.

RTD is celebrating 50 years in operation.

Light rail was introduced to Denver in October, 1994. RTD operates eight light rail lines and three commuter rail lines.

The Denver Regional Council of Governments is also in the midst of drafting its 2050 plan, which will take into consideration input received through RTD’s Reimagine program.

Jacob Riger, manager of long-term transportation at DRCOG, said the Denver area’s ensuing growth means addressing safety needs, first and foremost, while needing to consider changing technology and finding creative ways to build partnerships to help fund transportation projects.

Riger said DRCOG and RTD have not announced specific long-term project partnerships yet, but said DRCOG will be fully participatory in the work RTD is doing.

Riger said the DRCOG 2050 transportation plan is expected to be finished in 2021.

“I could see a future where transportation solutions are customized to community needs,” Riger said. “I think we need to think differently about our transportation needs as this area evolves.”

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Washington Park Profile 13

November 2019

a

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

PARK LAKE SAFETY

Denver parks are home to several lakes throughout the city. Washington Park has several water sources, including two lakes — Grasmere and Smith. The lakes are filled with recycled water. The ditch that runs throughout Wash Park brings new water from a treatment plant into the two lakes.

The Denver Department of Public Health

and Environment monitors lakes such as the two in Wash Park by testing them for bacteria, nutrients and more. The department works closely with Parks and Recreation, which is in charge of managing the lakes, said Alan Polonsky, an environmental analyst with the DDPHE. Lake safety is often a cycle, where one nutrient being high or low can impact other areas of water quality. “Everything effects something else,” Polonsky said.

Nutrients Nutrients that are in the water are one of the main things that DDPHE tests for, Polonsky said. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two main nutrients found in lakes.

Because the two lakes in Washington Park are filled with recycled water, the levels of nitrogen have been high in the past. But, more recently, those numbers have been going down. Polonksy said that the Metro Water

Reclamation Plant where the lakes get their water has improved its system for removing nutrients, which has helped lower those levels.

The amount of nutrients in a lake impacts the algae growth. Water net algae in particular has been a problem in Grasmere lake for the last several years. The algae tends to latch onto plants that grow in shallow lake bottoms, Polonsky said.

“That’s what we saw,” he said. “It’s real explosive stuff.”

Algae growth Explosive algae growth is another thing the DDPHE pays attention to. When lots of algae is growing in a lake, it can spike the oxygen and pH levels of the water.

Polonsky said that analysts with the DDPHE pay close attention to what types of algae are growing in lakes. This year, a viral story about a dog dying in Texas after swim-

ming in water that had blue-green algae in it caused alarm across the country.

Because there was a high level of the water net algae in Grasmere Lake, and there was a good mix of phytoplankton in Smith Lake, Polonsky said it was a small chance that blue-green algae had gotten to dangerous levels in Washington Park.

“It was a pretty good year for the two lakes,” he said.

By Kailyn Lamb

klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Bacteria Although it is not often seen in lakes, the DDPHE does test regularly for bacteria such as E. coli.

Polonksy said that bacteria in

lakes or streams can become an issue when wastewater is involved. After a storm, water that has drained could carry bacteria. Because Washington Park gets its water from the ditch, it can act as a buffer between the two water sources, Polonsky said.

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Water quality in the lakes at Denver parks can impact the plant and animal life living in them. The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment tests the waters regularly to nutrient levels and bacteria.

KAILYN LAMB Management implications After DDPHE has tested the water, it gives recommendations to Parks and Recreation on how to manage any issues that arise — high algae growth, nitrogen levels, etc.

Storm water detention areas are one

Water quality Water quality, Polonsky said, is the “umbrella” category that all the other items fall under. It is the largest factor that impacts the fish and plant life in a lake.

High pH and oxygen levels due to algae growth, he said, “those two can have direct issues with aquatic life.”

Another item that DDPHE tests for, but

example of managing water before it gets into streams and lakes. Collecting the water in one area allows any unwanted sediment to sink to the bottom.

Both lakes in Washington Park also have solar-powered mixing columns to help keep the water moving.

is not usually a problem in Denver lakes, is metal levels. Most often, copper sulfate can be found in lakes because it is used for algae control. Although those levels of copper are often taken care of by a lake naturally, Polonsky said he prefers a dye method for controlling algae.

The dye turns the water blue, making it harder for sun to penetrate and plants to use it for photosynthesis. It is a nonchemical method for controlling algae growth.

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14 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

Mayor’s budget for 2020 highlights transportation Several city council budget increases were also approved by Hancock

By Joe Carabello Special to Colorado Community Media

Denver’s proposed 2020 budget highlights multimodal transportation with increased funding, as well as initiatives for the homeless population, while also preparing for slower economic growth.

Denver City Council will vote on Mayor Michael Hancock’s final 2020 budget proposal

Discover

by Nov. 12. The mayor’s office submitted its initial budget to council Sept. 9. Council sent its comments back to the mayor, requesting approximately $6.4 million in additional funding for a variety of items in the budget.

Many of the budget increases that the council initiated were funded through surpluses available in the 2019 General Fund. These surplus funds are the result of agency budgets which came in under their 2019 allotment.

The 2020 budget proposal of $1.49 billion is only $3 million larger than the 2019 budget.

Considering the size of the budget — $149 billion spread across 18 items — the funding increase requested by council was not significant. But to those departments receiving additional funding, it can be impactful.

For Piep van Hueven, policy director for nonprofit Bicycle Colorado, the additional funds requested by city council and subsequently approved by the mayor are needed to achieve their goals of getting more people out of their cars. “We can’t continue our car-centric habits or we’ll wind up like LA,” she said.

Transportation and mobility programs received over $118 million, making it one of the largest items in the budget.

Denver Streets Partnership, a coalition of nine community organizations chaired by van Hueven, is inclusive of all modes of transportation: pedestrian, bicycling, auto and multimodal public transit.

“Activating transportation safely and effectively, including infrastructure and policy oversight, is critical,” van Hueven said. “Our current (single occupancy vehicle) percentage is around 70%. But we need to achieve a balance closer to that in Seattle, where it’s 50%.”

Although the city did increase this year’s budget compared to last year, Michael Strott, deputy communication director for the mayor, said Denver’s revenue growth is starting to moderate.

“The 2020 budget proposal prioritizes investments in key areas important to Denver residents, especially transportation and mobility, while remaining balanced, fiscally responsible and maintaining healthy reserves,” Strott said.

He also said the 2020 proposal, combined with the third issuance of the Elevate Denver bonds, will mean $7.5 million next year for sidewalk improvement projects to construct more than five miles of sidewalks in the city, including sidewalk gaps. Other investments include $800,000 for pedestrian crossing

improvements.

The 2020 budget proposal, combined with the third issuance of the Elevate Denver bonds, will mean $11.4 million in funding next year toward building out Denver’s bicycle infrastructure to advance the implementation of Denver Moves Bicycles, another of Denver Streets Partnership’s programs.

A notable gap in funding exists in Denver Streets Partnership and the city’s allotment for sidewalk improvements. According to van Heuven and city officials, the city’s budget will provide about five miles of new sidewalks.

Denver Streets Partnership cites the need for 20 miles of new sidewalk construction.

Denver’s Vision Zero program, which aims to reduce the number of pedestrian deaths in the city, also has a goal to build 20 miles of sidewalks in 2020.

Other items awarded additional funding by the mayor at the request of city council included several budget items for housing affordability and sustainability, specifically for those experiencing homelessness. Hancock approved council’s entire request for an additional $1.28 million, earmarked for four programs: storage lockers, public restrooms and hand washing stations, housing and rental support, and trash receptacles in high need areas like the Ballpark and River North neighborhoods. The total budget for affordable housing and other issues regarding homelessness is $97 million.

Benjamin Dunning and Terese Howard, spokespersons for Denver Homeless Out Loud, a grassroots advocacy organization, are appreciative but skeptical that the budget for homeless issues is adequate.

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Washington Park Profile 15

November 2019

Follow the monarchs

Budget FROM PAGE 14

“Homelessness is frequently the first bullet point but one of the smallest allocations considering the size of the budget,” said Dunning.

Dunning and Howard said the number of new housing units and new vouchers — 775 units according to them — are far from adequate. They project the current and ongoing growth of homelessness is such that Denver will never catch up with the demand unless it allots significantly larger budgets for homeless services.

The 2019 Point in Time count for the City and County of Denver was 3,943 homeless, of whom 806 were considered chronically homeless. The 2018 count was 3,445. Point in Time is a one-day count of people homeless across the state.

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless did not respond to queries about their position on the 2020 budget.

City officials this year maintained that the new budget needed to be balanced to prepare for a potential downturn in the economy. Hancock concluded his response to city council by stating his appreciation for its input and proposals, as well as a reminder about fiscal responsibility.

“After meeting requests, our fund balance will be at 15%, adhering to the city’s reserve policy and maintaining Denver’s strong financial position and AAA credit rating,” he wrote. “Together, we are insuring wise investments while keeping true to Denver’s values.”

Butterflies make heroic journeys on their migrations

T

he annual migration of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in eastern North America is one of the greatest animal migrations the world over. Up there with the wildebeest and zebras of Africa, sea GUEST turtles of Costa Rica and COLUMN emperor penguins in Sonya Anderson the Antarctic, monarch butterflies make a longdistance annual migration in order to survive.

Monarch butterflies begin each spring in central Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains, fly as far north as southern Canada for summer, then reliably return each fall to overwinter in those same Mexican mountains. This cycle includes millions of butterflies spanning four to five generations, distances of up to 3,000 flight miles per butterfly, as well as lots of flower nectar and milkweed (Asclepias).

The monarch is a tropical butterfly so it must move south in fall. Their chosen winter home is in high-elevation forests of oyamel trees (Abies religiosa) 100 miles northwest of Mexico City. At 8,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level it doesn’t sound tropical but average winter temperatures remain above freezing. Their return coincides with the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, and tradition says the monarchs are the souls of ancestors returning to earth for their yearly visit.

The migration of the monarch butterflies is one of the greatest animal migrations in the world. The butterflies travel from the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico to southern Canada and back again as the seasons change.

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The monarchs roost en masse in these large trees so densely that, though each weighs half a gram, their sheer numbers can break a branch.

Similarly, when millions suddenly take flight roused by a gust of wind, you really can hear their wings flapping, like the tapping of a quick light rain.

As temperatures warm in late January and early February, the monarchs emerge from hibernation to mate and fly north to lay eggs and spend the summer. Since an egg becomes

an adult butterfly in a month and adults live two to six weeks, three to four generations of monarchs will occur during their spring and summer in the north.

Monarchs solely use milkweed (Asclepias) as their host plant to lay their eggs on. The advantage to this lies in the bad tasting, milky “sap” that seeps from damaged milkweed foliage. The caterpillars voraciously eat milkweed, undeterred by this substance, and come to taste like it themselves. Over time, predators have learned this and usually avoid them. While caterpillars need milkweed, adult monarchs feed on flower nectar.

Fall’s cooler temperatures and other seasonal clues trigger a “super generation” to fly back to Mexico and overwinter. Unlike the dispersed journey north, the path south funnels all monarchs east of the Continental Divide into one narrow path through central Texas to Mexico creating a very noticeable phenomenon.

These adults are larger than usual, do not have developed sex organs, and possess more body fat than other generations. They can fly upwards of 1,500 miles, completing more than 50 in a day, and live twice as long. They stop daily for flower nectar and huddle at night for warmth. Ironically, these adults are known to gain weight, instead of losing it, as you might think. This is essential to their survival since they are the ones to mate in the spring and lay the eggs of the first generation of the next migration cycle.

Sonya Anderson is a horticulture specialist in the Pollinator Gardens with the Denver Botanic Gardens. She can be reached at horticulture@ denverbotanicgardens.org.

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16 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

The ‘Mother Museum looks to preserve legacy of Dr. Justina Ford

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

F

or Dr. Justina Ford, simply doing her job was an uphill battle. Although she was one of the first women to practice medicine in Colorado, she was not allowed to do so in a hospital because she was black and not given membership to the Colorado Medical Society.

Instead, Ford set up an office in her Five Points home. Over the span of 50 years she delivered 7,000 babies.

As a doctor, Ford left her mark on the Five Points community. She lived in her home office there until she died in 1952. Now that community is looking to give back.

Board members and volunteers from the Black American West Museum have partnered with Historic Denver to enter a national competition where the prize money will help pay for renovations to Ford’s former home and pediatrics office. The museum, at 3091 California St., is also housed inside.

The museum recently underwent a roof renovation, but board member Terri Gentry said staff at the museum also has concerns about the infrastructure and water damage that has happened in the building. The museum won $150,000 in the Vote Your Main Street competition to help pay for some of the water damage, as well as window repair. Because the building is historically designated, something as simple as replacing the windows can often become an expensive job because of the specific materials needed, Gentry said.

Working to preserve the house is helping to save a piece of the culture of Five Points. Gentry added that Ford was a woman dedicated to that community. If Ford had a day off, it was rare, she said.

“We consider this our largest artifact,” Gentry said. “Everything that (Ford) did, she also had that community as part of it.”

Vote Your Main Street is a national competition for historic sites. The top 10 sites get funding that helps to preserve the buildings. Ford’s home was the only Colorado site in the competition this year, and came in 10th place.

The Ford babies Several of the babies that Ford helped deliver still reside in Denver today, and came together to help spread the word on Vote Your Main Street. Now adults, the Martinez family fondly remembers their doctor and Ford’s role in a neighborhood largely made up of minority families due to Denver’s “redlining” practices at the time. Their uncle lived across the street from Dr. Ford.

Joseph Martinez, 70, was one of the babies that Ford helped to deliver. He said that having her in the community was a big benefit because she not only helped to deliver the babies, but she treated children for colds and other things as well. He called her the “Mother Teresa of the neighborhood.”

“Most families had a lot of children, they were big families, so they couldn’t really afford a lot,” he said. “So she fit in just perfectly.”

Mary Marquez, 83, the oldest of the Martinez siblings, said many of the families in the area did not have insurance and had little money to pay Ford for her services. Instead, they paid in what ways they could. Her father for example, often drove Ford to house calls throughout the neighborhood.

“She was an amazing person. Nobody had

Teresa’ of Five Points

more than anybody else,” Marquez said. “They didn’t pay her with money, a lot of people didn’t pay her. A lot of people would give her a sack of apples or something that they made.”

Ford had a lot of influence on Marquez. She helped Ford to deliver her baby brother Joseph at age 13. Because of watching Ford work as a doctor with her siblings, Marquez initially wanted to be a nurse. For a while, Marquez worked at Denver Health. She then went on to work in various roles in the Denver Police Department.

Saving Five Points For Gentry, renovating the house is about more than preserving the home of Ford. She also hopes to preserve the stories and culture that make up the Five Points community.

Over the years, as Denver has grown, people have been priced out of neighborhoods throughout the city. For decades, Five Points was one of the few places where black families could own a home. Now, Gentry said she has noticed that more and more new developments keep calling themselves RiNo, even though they’re located in the Five Points neighborhood.

“I’m concerned that we need to hang on to this history,” she said. “There was so much push and push back and telling folks that they couldn’t move east of Downing Street, which is the eastern edge of Five Points.”

Much of Gentry’s own family history is displayed on the walls of the Black American West Museum, which was founded in 1971 by Paul Stewart. Her great-grandfather was the first black dentist in Colorado, and her grandmother and aunt were twin jazz dancers during the height of the “Harlem of the West” era, which made clubs such as the Rossonian Hotel famous nationwide.

Development in the area has not only meant that people who once thrived in Five Points are leaving, but some of the buildings that once made up the area’s history are being replaced by new ones.

Ford’s home is an example of a building that could have been lost if not for the local community. The home used to be located off of Arapahoe Street. In the 1980s the land was sold to a developer that wanted to bulldoze the property.

But when the surrounding community heard the news, they rallied together, contacting Stewart from the museum, as well as then-city councilmember Hiawatha Davis. With the additional support of Historic Denver, which helped to raise $100,000, the house was relocated to its current location. Community members then raised an additional $100,000 to renovate the house. The Black American West Museum opened in the house in 1989.

Alison Salutz, the director of community programs at Historic Denver, said the nonprofit has had a long relationship with the museum. She added that it was really the community which started the process of saving the house, which had not been owned by the Ford family for more than 20 years. “In this case it seems like the community held on to that knowledge,” she said of Ford and her legacy.

Although Salutz said that it is better to keep historic homes or buildings in their original locations, moving buildings in order to preserve them is not unheard of. Historic Denver, a local nonprofit, often works with property owners or developers to try and find the best solutions to keep historic buildings but adapt their usage to new projects.

In the case of Ford’s home, it now houses a museum where the first floor is a replica of her doctor’s office. Salutz and Gentry both see it as an asset and educational tool to show Ford’s life.

“The house is the best way to tell her story today,” Salutz said.

Mary Marquez sits in her brother’s kitchen, listening to him reminisce about growing up in Five Points. Their family moved to the neighborhood when Marquez was a child.

KAILYN LAMB The Black American West Museum was founded in 1971, and moved into Dr. Justina Ford’s former home in the 1980s. The museum celebrates the history of black people in Colorado and in the West, including Ford.

COURTESY PHOTO

A LOOK AT ‘VOTE YOUR MAIN STREET’ The Vote Your Main Street is a national competition that helps organizations and nonprofits preserve historic buildings. The competition is run by Partners in Preservation. Different historic sites can be voted on, with the top 10 sites receiving a share of a $2 million fund.

This year, the competition celebrated locations where women made a historic impact on a community in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, women’s right to vote.

Dr. Justina Ford’s home, which now houses the Black American West Museum, is the only Colorado location in the competition this year. It is one of 20 participating locations.

The last day to vote in the competition was on Oct. 29. The Black American West Museum came in 10th place in the competition, and was awarded $150,000 toward renovations. Go to www.voteyourmainstreet.org for more information.

Washington Park Profile 17

November 2019

Come out into the sunlight — with Claude Monet DAM shows works of French impressionist who changed art world through long career

By Sonya Ellingboe sellingboe@coloradocommunitymedia.com

A life-sized photo of a pleasant-looking man surrounded by flowers welcomes the visitor at the entrance to Denver Art Museum’s “Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature,” the major exhibit of more than 100 paintings by the French impressionist that opened Oct. 21 and will remain through the holidays until Feb. 2.

Clearly a don’t-miss for art lovers, this is an exhibit with works painted in many locations (Monet loved to travel) and in a palette that is bright and light — even in a snowy scene in wintry Norway. It speaks to anyone who can see it.

Monet loved any and all flowers and eventually designed and planted his own extensive garden at Giverny in northern France, the locale for many of those lovely paintings of water lilies we associate with him.

But this exhibit, organized with the new Museum Barberini, in Potsdam, Germany, also includes glimpses of the countryside, as well as towns, across Europe, such as “The Strada Romana at Bordighera,” 1884.

“Claude Monet: the Truth of Nature” follows a long, successful and prolific career, from Monet’s first painting to be exhibited, at 18 — “View from Rouelles,” 1858 — to the darker “The House Seen Through the Roses,” 1926. Most are sunny, but he also loved fog, and the collection of works depicting London convey that love, especially well.

Angelica Daneo, chief curator and curator of European Art before 1900, worked with DAM director Christoph Heinrich and the Barberini’s director, Ortrud Westheider, to assemble the works exhibited on the second floor of the Denver Art Museum.

Claude Monet was drawn to art before he reached his teen years and at 16, was mentored

by Eugene Boudin and exhibited professionally while he studied. It was a time of change and resistance to it in the European art scene.

Paintings exhibited at the Denver Art Museum come from museums across the world, starting with the early “A View From Rouelles,” loaned by Maruma Art Park in Japan, which urged that a work by his mentor, Boudin, also be shown. Loans from many sources include “Haystacks, Snow Effect” from the Shelburn

Museum; “House Seen Through the Roses,” from the collection of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam; Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (“House of the Customs Officer” 1882) and “Path in the Wheat Fields,” 1882, from the Denver Arts Museum’s treasured halfdozen Monet paintings, bequeathed by Frederic C. Hamilton. This will be the only showing in the United States.

As the exhibit’s title suggests, Monet, throughout his life, was tuned into the many moods and versions of nature and constantly sought out new experiences — in the garden, at the seaside, on country roads and in small towns and larger cities. How does the sunlight frame that old homestead today? Or that grove of trees or expanse of lilies? How does light filter through leaves — or reflect off surf at the sea’s edge?

Think, as you stroll slowly through the galleries, about the skill the painter exhibited in his choices of color and texture, the blending of brushstrokes, rendering of light and shadow …

One can almost summon up sounds and scents with a focus on a given scene.

The installation of the Claude Monet paintings is greatly enhanced, I think, by the choice of deep, intense colors for the gallery walls: burgundy, deep blue, intense green … The background color makes even a small, subtle painting pop! The viewer should understand how daring his approach to painting was in 19th-century Europe.

“Throughout his career, Monet was indefatigable in his exploration of the different moods of nature, seeking to capture the spirit of a certain place and translating its truth onto the canvas,” Daneo commented.

The exhibit shows Monet’s eventual focus on certain subjects, such as haystacks, water lilies, bridges — as well as the eventual lack of humans in the scenes.

Through intense planning and precise choice of planting materials, Monet, an expert gardener, created the surroundings he wanted at Giverny and translated them to canvas in his later years, working with as many as seven gardeners at one point.

The exhibit fills three large galleries — about 20,000 square feet — and invites leisurely strolling and turns for repeat visits to some works where a connection seems apparent. A visitor should allow time to stop, sit, stare and return to that garden again … which may be difficult, because tickets are selling out and there will be more people than would be ideal for a relaxed visit. Be sure to line up a ticket before you go — it’s sold out for the next few weeks!

In the spring, the exhibit will travel to the Museum Barberini. A large, colorful catalogue is available at the Denver Art Museum shop.

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Around 120 paintings by Impressionist Claude Monet are now on display at the Denver Art Museum. It is the largest exhibit to feature the artist’s work in 25 years.

KAILYN LAMB

IF YOU GO “Claude Monet: The Truth of Nature” is exhibited at the Denver Art Museum through Feb. 2, 2020. Timed tickets cost an extra amount above regular entry fees. See denverartmuseum.org or call 720-865-5000 for information.

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18 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

Chef stays on

expa nsion tra c k

Denver restaurateur looks to add more Chook locations

By Nora Weiser Special to Washington Park Profile

So let’s say you are a James Beard award-winning chef with two successful restaurants in Denver (Fruition and Mercantile), a cheesemaking operation (Fruition Farms Creamery), and a joint pastry venture with D Bar’s Keegan Gerhardt (Füd Mill). What do you do for your next act? If you are Alex Seidel, you open up a fast-casual chicken joint with a focus on sustainably raised chicken, locally sourced ingredients, and minimizing waste. Seidel has done just that, launching Chook at 1300 S. Pearl Street last December.

Chook is Australian-inspired, and roasts its chicken with a charcoal rotisserie.

Seidel was joined in this new venture with his friends, fellow Denver restaurateur Adam Schlegel (of Snooze) and barman-about-town Randy Layman.

The Washington Park Profile caught up with Seidel to talk about the year-old restaurant, and what’s next for the restaurateur.

You’ve been open since Decem-

Alex Seidel, center, stands inside Chook with his fellow co-founders of the restaurant. Chook is a charcoal roasted chicken restaurant on South Pearl Street. COURTESY OF CADE NAGY ber 2018. Tell me about how it has been going, and how the neighborhood has responded.

The response has been great, and we’ve connected with a large number of people in the neighborhood who have fast become regulars. We built Chook with the idea of community in mind. After 12 years of feeling so supported by the Denver community in my restaurants and work, I wanted to give

back by supporting the community.

In everything I do, I want to make Denver an even better place to live.

We donate 1% of Chook sales back to the community—not just Denver, but the specific Washington Park/ Platt Park neighborhood.

To date, Chook’s Community Chest program has donated over $10,000 to neighborhood schools, urban gardens, food-focused nonprofits including Project Angel

Heart and Slow Food Nations, and community events like the Dumb Friends League’s annual Furry Scurry at Washington Park.

Working directly with local schools is always a highlight, and in the upcoming months Chook will be doing a number of percent of sales nights for local schools in addition to bringing in food for the teachers and staff at various times.

How has Chook aligned with what you envisioned it would be?

It has been much more of a phenomenon, and more embraced by the community, than I had expected.

Support has really been through the roof. This feels good because a few years ago I was speaking on a panel for Centura Health about food access and an audience member asked how I felt speaking about access to good food when my restaurants run $75-$100 per person, certainly not accessible to everyone. That really spurred me to focus on my passion to feed more people good food.

Why is this focus on sustainability, reducing waste, and doing right by employees, the environment, and producers so important to Chook?

I realized that I can use my role as a chef to advocate for less waste, better access, and improved food systems, things that matter to me.

Chook is a means to achieve that.

We are building poultry systems

to support local farmers to raise good poultry. We are also working towards B Corp certification and looking into being employee owned and operated. Chook was started with a vision to grow to more locations, and that growth will really allow us to have the impact we envision. Each year our current location supports 36 nonprofits and we go through about 25,000 chickens. Our vision is to add more locations in other Denver neighborhoods so that that can grow and have a real impact on communities and agricultural practices.

Hale neighborhood next Chook hopes to open its next location this coming December at 4340 E. Eighth Ave. in Denver’s Hale neighborhood. The restaurateurs admit it is quite a leap to open two restaurants in a year, so no additional locations are planned at the moment, but they look forward to exploring the possibilities in other great Denver neighborhoods.

In addition to Chook’s signature charcoal-roasted chicken, the fast casual restaurant offers vegetablebased sides, comfort food classics like mac and cheese or potato wedges, seasonal dishes, and Piedmont wines on tap by the glass or carafe. A whole chicken with sides to serve a family of four runs about $35 to $40.

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Washington Park Profile 19

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November 2019

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After he signed the bill, Hancock and Bob McDonald, the executive director of the Denver Department of Health and Environment answered some questions on the bill. The new bill requires that any stores selling tobacco products must be licensed through the city.

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Washington Park Profile 21

November 2019

Denver nonprofit launches shower truck for homeless individuals

need services L

Filling the for

Vikki Stevens steps out of the new shower truck after taking a look inside. Bayaud Enterprises, a nonprofit which works to provide employment and other resources to the homeless, launched the truck last month.

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ast month Bayaud Enterprises launched a new shower truck, a firstof-its-kind trailer that will provide private showers to Denver’s homeless population.

There are two showers on the trailer.

Although there are sometimes showers at the shelter spaces throughout Denver, there can be a long line, or the showers are in a large bathroom. The Bayaud showers are completely private, and the nonprofit will provide toiletries such as shampoo and body wash.

David Henninger, the CEO and co-founder of Bayaud, said that providing mobile services is important to the mission of the nonprofit.

In addition to the laundry and shower trucks, Bayaud offers employment and works with the city to eliminate barriers to employment for homeless individuals.

“I consider being a nonprofit, particularly a charitable nonprofit, a privilege,” Henninger said. “Bayaud belongs to the community.”

After the success of its laundry truck, staff at Bayaud Enterprises wanted to see what other ways they could help provide valuable resources to Denver’s homeless population.

The laundry truck first launched in 2017. A second truck was later added to the rotation.

Each truck can do around 30 loads of laundry.

For more information on the laundry truck, read Life on Capitol Hill’s story from September 2018, at https://bit.ly/2BMB7kD. Similar to the laundry truck, the shower truck will connect to a hydrant with Denver Water. The water that runs through the system

will go into a plastic container on the trailer that Bayaud later disposes of. Bayaud staff estimated that they will be able to run around 10 showers before the container is full.

There is also a low-energy heater for the showers.

Both the laundry and shower truck will travel around Denver, with the times and locations made available on the company’s website.

Britta Fisher, chief housing officer with the city’s new Department of Housing Stability, said the new shower truck is an example of what impact local businesses can have on the community.

“This is an innovative service that’s so needed,” she said. “It’s not just a government response, it’s not just a nonprofit response, it’s not just a for-profit response, but that we all work together in order to have a community wide response to people in need.”

Vikki Stevens, along with her husband Dan Yagow, donated $10,000 to fund the new shower truck. Stevens has been volunteering for Bayaud and several other organizations that aid the homeless in Denver for the last several years.

“I’m very familiar with the needs,” she said of her experience. Having a mobile shower means that Bayaud can bring this resource to wherever people are. This is helpful, because some of the homeless population in Denver may be unaware of the different resources available to them, Stevens said.

Showers and clean clothes are some of the top things that homeless people need in order to get job interviews or other resources.

“You have to be clean,” Stevens said.

22 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

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Washington Park Profile 23

November 2019

Film fest takes audiences to new places Denver event also honors late artistic director

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

At its core, film is an expression of people’s lives, and as such, it stands to reason film festivals would mirror this fact. And for more than two decades, the Denver Film Festival was at least partly an expression of Denver Film’s artistic director, Michael Brittin “Brit” Withey.

The 50-year-old was killed in a one-car accident on March 31 and so it’s fitting that the 42nd Denver Film Festival begins with a tribute to the man and just some of the movies he loved.

“Brit was a mentor to me, so I’ve been working with others in his stead on this year’s festival,” said Matthew Campbell, interim artistic director. “We spent the last year trying to put together something really special. Something to honor Brit’s legacy and something for everyone, regardless of what their tastes are.”

The festival kicked off on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 14th and Curtis Street, UA Denver Pavilions,

500 16th St. and SIE Film Center, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. The Festival Annex will again be set up at the McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave. During the festival’s run more than 250 films will be screened, including local, national and international works. There will also be industry panels, achievement awards, tributes, as well as an International Focus on Brazilian Cinema.

“We have some great red carpets with some movies that will be discussed well into award season,” said Festival Director and Interim Executive Director Britta Erickson.

“The body of program is super strong, with films from more than 40 countries.”

Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out,” featuring a knock-out cast that includes Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield and Jamie Lee Curtis, is one of four red carpet special events, with Johnson in attendance to receive the 2019 John Cassavetes Award on Thursday, Oct. 31.

Other notable films that will be screened include Trey Edward Shults’ award-worthy “Waves,” Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” and Mark Cousins’ 14-hour documentary, “Women Make Film.”

As in previous years, the Festival Annex has become the place to be

IF YOU GO WHAT: 42nd Denver Film Festival WHEN: Through Sunday, Nov. 10 WHERE: Ellie Caulkins Opera House 14th and Curtis Street UA Denver Pavilions 500 16th St. SIE Film Center 2510 E. Colfax Ave. The 42nd annual Denver Film Fest wraps up this month on Nov. 11. The festival has films from around the world. for people who want a more interactive experience. The annex will play host to panel discussions; virtual reality, interactive and immersive experiences; High School Day; community engagement; and a Festival Lounge for the public.

A popular returning feature is the 60-minute “Fire Escape,” which can include up to 15 people at a time. In the experience, eight building tenants are entangled in a murder and participants need to solve the case.

And then there is “Arden’s Wake: Tide’s Fall,” a virtual reality experience that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, where a young woman lives with her father in a lighthouse at the edge of an endless sea.

“Creatives are doing some really exciting things with VR experiences,” said Campbell. “We’re bringing these different types of storytelling and new technological forms to Denver audience. A lot of them are brand new, and there’s no other way to experience them.”

Creating an experience is really what makes attending a film festival a unique experience. For many of these films, particularly shorts and international films, this may be the only chance to see them on a big screen. Both Campbell and Erickson encourage attendees to be bold and adventurous when selecting films or themes to explore and then attend a panel or discuss

Festival Annex McNichols Civic Center Building 144 W. Colfax Ave. TICKETS: www.denverfilm.org

the films you check out.

“What’s important in experiencing a film festival is taking chances. Read through the guide, pick things that feel heartfelt to you and things that connect with you,” Erickson said. “You may not love everything you see, but you have to dive in. We want you to have a dialogue about what you see, because you get more out of the experience when you interact with your fellow audience members.”

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November 2019

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Washington Park Profile 25

November 2019

Wash Park kids excel in innaugural triathlon Event launched with 104 participants last month

By Shanna Fortier Special to Washington Park Profile

Carter Theis, 10, crossed the balloonarched finish line Oct. 13 with a huge smile on his face. Cheerleaders, a DJ and community supporters waited on the other side cheering on the finishers. This was Theis’ third triathlon. But many of his fellow athletes were competing in the swim, bike, run event for the first time.

Theis was one of 104 area youths ages 8 to 12 to compete in the first My Denver Youth TRY-athlon put on by Denver Parks and Recreation’s Washington Park Recreation Center.

“We’re just excited to offer it this to the community,” said Glen Batista, recreation supervisor for the Washington Park Recreation Center.

Batista said with the center’s resources of a pool, and the trails along the park, the triathlon seemed like a perfect fit.

The event hosted three divisions with distances varying in each. In the experienced division, athletes completed a 150-meter swim at the rec center pool before embarking on a 2.2-mile bike ride and a 1.2-mile run within the park.

The race was free for athletes to participate, but wasn’t timed.

“We wanted it to be accessible for all kids regardless of ability,” Batista said.

“We’ll see if it makes sense in the future to add timing.”

He said staff will also assess to see if the distances need changing and if it would be better to hold the event during a warmer time of year. This year, the event was scheduled three days after an unexpected first snowfall of the season in Denver, which made it colder than originally anticipated.

No matter the changes, Batista said he would like to keep the triathlon as a free event.

“At Denver Parks and Rec, the whole idea is inclusivity — something for everybody,” he explained. “So we don’t want there to be any barriers with fees and registration.”

To find out about future events and happenings, visit denvergov.org/recreation.

Carter Theis, 10, is cheered on while he crosses the finish line at the My Denver Youth TRY-athlon held Oct. 13.

Quinn Dudek shows off her medal Oct. 13 after completing her first triathlon.

PHOTOS BY SHANNA FORTIER

Evan Wilson, 11, rides 2.2 miles around Wash Park for the first triathlon event run by the recreation center.

All triathlon participants started their race in the pool with a swim.

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26 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

Things to Do Submit calendar listings on our website, coloradocommunitymedia.com, go to the Calendar tab and click “Submit an Event.” Priority is given to non-profits, low- or no-cost events and locations within our distribution map.

Next Issue Deadline: Wednesday, Nov. 20.

EVENTS Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet listening session Noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet invites Coloradans to meet with a member of his Colorado staff at an upcoming listening session in Denver.

Bennet’s Community Liaison, Alexandra Alonso, will host office hours for Coloradans.

202-224-5852 Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library Study Room, 2nd Floor 2401 Welton St. 40th Annual Mile High Holiday Mart Fri., Nov. 8: 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. (Please note start time change this year!); Sat., Nov. 9: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 10: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. $5 in advance at JLD.org or at the door. Bring a donation to the event for the Together 4 Colorado Toy Drive to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and receive FREE admission!

Gates Field House University of Denver 2201 E. Asbury Ave. JLD.org Brexit: What Does the Future Hold for the UK and the European Union?

2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 Program from 2:30-3:30; Starting at 2, a British high tea will be served. Join Active Minds as we place this important transition in its historic context and explore where the path may lead,

not only for the UK, but also the EU and the rest of the world.

Event is free; RSVP at 720440-8200 The Carillon at Belleview Station 4855 S. Niagara St. Germinal Stage presents “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” Through Nov. 9 Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 - $25 and reservations are available by calling 303-455-7108 or by email at germinalstage@gmail.com. $15 rush tickets are available 15 minutes prior to curtain based on availability; walk-up only, no reservations required.

John Hand Theater Colorado Free University Lowry Campus 7653 E. First Place.

The Legacy of World War I: A Flawed Peace 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 Join Active Minds for a look at how the agreements made at the Paris Peace Conference after “the Great War” sowed the seeds of conflict soon thereafter, as well as to the present day. Event is free; no RSVP required. For more days and times, visit activeminds.com.

Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. activeminds.com Una Noche de Flamenco!

7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 Enjoy an evening of authentic Gypsy flamenco music and dance as award-winning guitarist René Heredia and his Flamenco Fantasy Dance Theatre bring the heart and soul of Spanish gypsy flamenco to

the Su Teatro stage, complete with colorful costumes, castanets, stomping feet and fiery passion. Ticket: $20-$30, children free.

Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive reneheredia.com/ una-noche-deflamenco-2

Artificial Intelligence 10:30 am to 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 13 Join Active Minds for an overview of the development of Artificial Intelligence, computer systems capable of performing tasks typically done by a human brain, such as optical recognition, complex decision making, voice recognition, learning, language translation, and more. Event is free.

720-269-4380 16 Penn Apartments 1615 Pennsylvania St. Zimbabwe 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 Join Active Minds as we review Zimbabwe’s history as a former British Colony, the nominally independent country of Rhodesia, and a 15 year civil war involving complicated race relations.

Event is free.

Sam Gary Library 2961 Roslyn St. activeminds.com Warren Miller’s Timeless, presented by Volkswagen Votes for Women Tea 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16 Women in Colorado have been

voting since a referendum passed in November 1893 and the Center for Colorado Women’s History will host a Votes for Women Tea! The relationship between tea gatherings and the path to women’s suffrage intertwined in many facets of the movement. We begin with a tour throughout the house museum that will immerse our guests into the time period in which many women fought for the right to vote! After, we will gather in the tea room to enjoy a three-course tea of fresh fruit, scones, muffins, and our Lady Evans tea. Tickets are $20 for History Colorado members and $25 for non-members, and $20 for students 303-620-4933 Center for Colorado Women’s History at Byers-Evans House 1310 Bannock St. historycolorado.org HungerFree303 — A Concert for a Cause 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 Twelve local bands will perform throughout the night to raise money for a great cause: fighting childhood hunger in Denver.

The University Club of Denver 1673 Sherman St. hungerfree303.com Miguel Zenón celebrates Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 Grammy-nominated saxophonist/composer and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón, who brings his quartet, “one of the most accomplished and seasoned small groups in jazz” (Chicago Tribune), to Dazzle in Denver on Saturday, Nov. 16 as part of a nine-city fall tour. The tour celebrates the group’s acclaimed new album Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera, which pays tribute to a giant of salsa and a major Zenón influence.

Tickets $15-$30 303-839-1500 Dazzle @ Baur’s

1512 Curtis St. dazzledenver.com Colorado’s Ski Patrol 1 to 2 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18 The Army’s 10th Mountain Division, developed during World War II for combat missions in the mountains of northern Italy, evolved into ski patrols as we know them today. Far-reaching and nuanced, the job of a ski patroller combines long days, physically demanding work in high alpine environments, and the ability to respond to complex medical emergencies. In Colorado, ski patrol has grown from a volunteer operation to a professional workforce — incorporating advancements in lifesaving techniques, avalanche forecasting and specialized guest services. Duck behind the lines and experience the lives and legends of ski patrollers who serve mountains across Colorado. Ticket Price: Members $70, Non-members $90 303-447-8679 History Colorado Center 1200 Broadway historycolorado.org

OUTREACH Nicotine Anonymous Sundays 12:30 p.m.

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

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

Nar-Anon Sundays 6:45 p.m.

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

First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette St. nar-anon.org

SEE THINGS TO DO, P27

Washington Park Profile 27

November 2019

Things to Do FROM PAGE 26

Grant Street Reach Mondays 8 a.m.

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

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

303-775-8062 Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway foodaddicts.org Home for the Heart AL-ANON Mondays - Group Al-Anon Adult Children of Alcoholics. Tuesday through Thursday - Group Al-Anon. Fridays - Group Al-Anon (Meditation the first 10 minutes).

Room 114, In lower level. Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway al-anon-co.org History Matters Committee Meeting This Historic Preservation Committee is responsible for numerous historic districts as well as individually designated homes and buildings. Join us each month to learn what is happening in your neighborhood and to add to your voice.

1290 Williams St. chundenver.org Moderation Management Tuesdays 6:30 p.m.

Weekly meetings for problem (vs. chronic) drinkers who want to reduce their intake of alcohol. Email: denver@moderation.org.

First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette St. moderation.org Joy AL-ANON Tuesdays 8 p.m.

Al-Anon’s Purpose is to help friends and families of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend. In the Roberts Building, Room 103.

Saint John’s Cathedral, 1350 Washington St. al-anon-co.org LifeRing Secular Recovery Meeting Wednesdays 6 p.m.

A network of people who support one another in living free of alcohol and other non-medically indicated addictive drugs.

303-875-5088 First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette St. liferingcolorado.org Marijuana Anonymous Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.

A fellowship of people who share experience, strength and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem

and help others to recover from marijuana addiction.

Unity Church on the Hill, 1555 Race St. http://marijuana-anonymous.org FREE Support with Binge Eating Challenges Thursdays 6 p.m.

This support group is ideal for individuals at least 18 years old who are struggling with a binge type eating disorder. All groups are free of charge. We hold confidential groups facilitated by specialists to allow you to gain the support you need.

The Eating Disorder Foundation, 1901 E. 20th Ave. eatingdisorderfoundation.org

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY Catholic Mass Sundays 7:30 a.m.

Also, Spanish Mass, 12:30p.m. (2nd and 4th Sundays) and African Mass, 1p.m. (3rd Sunday).

303-322-8042 St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, 2301 York St. loyoladenver.org Episcopal Service Sunday, 7:45 a.m., 9:30 a.m. 303-3886469 St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1280 Vine St. stbdenver.org

sjcathedral.org

Anglican Services Sundays 7:45 a.m.

303-831-7115 Saint John’s Cathedral, 1350 Washington St.

Orthodox Low Mass Sundays 8 a.m.

Church School at 9:10 a.m., Anglican Chant Matins at 9:45 a.m., Solemn High Mass at 10 a.m.

St. Mark’s Church, 1405 S. Vine St. Interdenominational Service Sundays 8:30 a.m.

303-800-8269 Denver United Church, 660 S. Broadway denverunited.com Catholic Mass Sundays 8:30 a.m.

Also at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

303-831-7010 Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 1535 Logan St. denvercathedral.org Catholic Mass Sundays 9:00 a.m.

303-534-4014 St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Parish, 1060 St. Francis Way stelizabethdenver.org Acts 29 Christian Service Sundays 9 a.m.

L2 Church, 1477 Columbine St. L2today.com SEE THINGS TO DO, P28

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER CLASSICS

FAMILY

Mozart Symphony No. 40

Drums of the World

NOV 8-10 FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00

DEC 1 SUN 2:30

Renée Fleming - The Brightness of Light Colorado Premiere

Love Actually in Concert

John Denver Holiday Celebration with the Colorado Symphony

CLASSICS

DEC 7 SAT 7:30

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto NOV 22-24 FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00

Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour

MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY

NOV 29 FRI 7:30

HalfNotes

Home Alone © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

All Rights Reserved. MPAA Rating: PG

DEC 8 SUN 3:30

A Colorado Christmas

HalfNotes

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

All Beethoven – 250th Birthday Celebration

SYMPHONY POPS

Aretha: A Tribute

DEC 16 MON 7:30

NOV 30 SAT 7:30

Handel’s Messiah — Awakening DEC 20-21 FRI-SAT 7:30

Holiday Brass DEC 22 SUN 1:00

A Night in Vienna HalfNotes Please join us for family-friendly activities 1 hour before the concert.

DEC 31 TUE 6:30

These performances include FULL SCREENING OF THE FEATURE FILM!

presenting sponsor

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NOV 15 & 17 FRI 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00

Home Alone in Concert

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28 Washington Park Profile

November 2019

Things to Do FROM PAGE 27

Contemporary Services Sundays 9 a.m.

11 a.m. Service offered as well.

303-322-5733 Church in the City-Beth Abraham, 1580 Gaylord St. churchinthecity.org Sunday Progressive Service Sundays 9:30 a.m.

Please join us in celebrating our next era of active, progressive service in the 21st century! We value, accept, appreciate and celebrate each person’s uniqueness, creativity, and talents as expressions of God. ALL are welcome.

303-388-6469 St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 1280 Vine St. www.stbdenver.org Lutheran Worship Sundays 9:30 a.m.

All are welcome to share in God’s grace.

303-831-7023 Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 915 E. Ninth Ave. oslchurchdenver.org

Orthodox Mass Sundays 10 a.m.

303-698-2433 Saint Augustine Orthodox Church, 55 W. Third Ave. staugustinedenver.org

Presbyterian Services Sundays 10 a.m.

720-316-1279 St. Patrick Presbyterian Church Denver, 1570 Clarkson St. saintpatrickdenver.org

Seventh Day Adventist Traditional Worship Sundays 11 a.m.

303-744-1271 Denver South Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2675 S. Downing St. denversouthsda.org

Interfaith Devotions Sundays 10 a.m.

303-744-6456 Baha’i Center of Metro Denver, 225 E. Bayaud Ave. denverbahais.org

Christian Science Service Sundays 10 a.m.

303-839-1505 First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1415 Logan St. christiansciencecolorado.org

Sunday Festival Sundays 12 p.m.

We have a festival every Sunday which begins with a Kirtan. After Kirtan, we have a presentation on Bhakti Yoga followed by an Kirtan & Arati, and a free vegetarian feast.

Radha Krishna Temple, 1400 Cherry St. www.krishnadenver.com

Worship Service Sundays 10 a.m.

With pre-worship coffee at 9:30 a.m. and post worship social time at 11:30 a.m.

303-860-1819 Metropolitan Community Church of the Rockies, 980 Clarkson St. lifelegacyphotography.com/mccr/ Progressive Protestant Services Sundays 10:00 a.m.

An open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ that welcomes all people regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Sunday school offered and fellowship hour following each service. Come join our community!

Sixth Avenue UCC, 3250 E. Sixth Ave. sixthavenueucc.org

Presbyterian Services Sundays 9:30 a.m.

Followed by fellowship at 10:30 a.m. and education for all ages at 11 a.m.

303-333-9366 Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, 1100 Fillmore St. capitolheightspresbyterian.org

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Episcopal Services Sundays 10 a.m.

303-831-8963 Church of the Holy Redeemer, 2552 Williams St. Evangelical Lutheran Services Sundays 10 a.m.

303-722-5311 Epiphany Lutheran Church, 790 S. Corona St. www.epiphanylutheran.net Baptist Service Sundays

10:30 a.m.

303-861-2501 First Baptist Church of Denver, 1373 Grant St. fbcdenver.org

Lutheran Worship Sundays 10:30 a.m.

303-839-1432 St. Paul Lutheran and Roman Catholic Community of Faith, 1600 Grant St. saintpauldenver.com Worship Services Sundays 9 a.m.

Also offered at 10:30 am.

303-974-7489 Platt Park Church, 1601 S. Clarkson St. plattparkchurch.org Catholic Mass Sundays 11 a.m.

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Bring your lunch! We will serve the text! This is an open forum of discussion to review and discuss ethical & moral issues in selected Jewish texts. Newcomers quickly and easily fit right in!

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Morning Service followed by breakfast at The Jewish Experience Center.

303-316-6412 The Jewish Experience Center, 399 S. Monaco Parkway. www.theje.com Temple Sinai Shabbat Morning Minyan Saturdays 9 a.m.

This service is most often led by members who share their spirit and talent. At least one of our Rabbis attend this service, but their role is to support.

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Washington Park Profile 29

November 2019

Mexican nonprofit aims to build bridges across cultures Organization stages first fundraiser celebrating Día de los Muertos

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

Día de los Muertos is one of the most popular and well-known cultural events in the Mexican calendar. Thanks to movies like Pixar’s “Coco,” it’s gained a cross-cultural appeal that has inspired many to learn more about the holiday and culture it celebrates.

Which made it the perfect pairing for the Mexican Cultural Center’s first fundraising event, hosted at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on Thursday, Oct. 24.

The organization is hoping to make the fundraiser an annual event.

“As a nonprofit organization we need to raise the funds to support our year-round programming,” said Ana Valles, executive director of the cultural center. “Also, one of our goals with the event is to get the word out and educate about our culture and traditions. That’s why for MCC’s first fundraiser, we used Día de los Muertos as the example.”

The event featured extravagant altars, silent and live auctions, music, food and tequila samples, all with the aim of inspiring and educating about Día de los Muertos and the work the cultural center does throughout the year. It hosts more than 20 events and three signature programs, and the money raised will allow the center to continue to provide free or low-cost programs to more than 38,000 people.

“We do events all over the state and partner with all kinds of other cultural organizations,” explained Rachel Garcia, vice chair of the cultural center’s board. “We thought the event was a great way to build a bridge to other cultures.”

Día de los Muertos’ roots go back to ancient culture like the Aztecs and Maya, and has grown and developed over the years as Spain’s Catholicism was introduced to the population of Mexico and Latin America.

It’s a day to honor lost loved ones with marigolds, offerings for the dead, sugar skulls and more.

The sold-out event was attended by people of all ages, including supporters of the cultural center, partner organizations, sponsors and those eager to learn more about Mexican culture and Día de los Muertos.

“This is a great experience for building cultural awareness and understanding its history,” said Roger Cobb, community development representative with the City of Denver’s economic development and opportunity department. “Compassion and sensitivity are so important, especially when you think about what’s happening in the world.”

That worldwide perspective makes the work the cultural center does all the more necessary, explained Valles.

“The continued growth of the Latino population in Colorado and in the United States underscores the need to build understanding and cultural awareness among Latinos and non-Latinos,” she said.

“For non-Latinos, it is imperative that we promote the many contributions of Latinos in the U.S. and specifically in Colorado as the means for building understanding and appreciation for the migration of Mexicanos and other Latinos across the Americas.”

Attendees to the Mexican Cultural Center’s first annual Día de los Muertos fundraiser on Oct. 24 pose for a photo with costumed volunteers at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

PHOTOS BY CLARKE READER

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information on the Mexican Cultural Center and its opportunities, visit www.mccdenver.org.

Elvis Rubio and Roger Cobb, both community development representatives with the City of Denver’s economic development and opportunity department, examine some of the altars and displays set up by the Mexican Cultural Center.

Costumed volunteers pose for a spooky selfie at the Mexican Cultural Center’s Día de los Muertos fundraiser.

It was the first time the center put together a fundraising event.

Examples of the altars and cultural artifacts display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science as part of the Mexican Cultural Center’s Día de los Muertos fundraiser.

30 Washington Park Profile CALL KAREN TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! 303-566-4091

November 2019

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Washington Park Profile 31

November 2019

Denver tree canopy in danger Emerald ash borer and spruce ips beetle are killing Denver trees

By Nancy Profera Special to Colorado Community Media

Denver’s tree population is suffering from drought, climate change and insects.

Denver residents have likely witnessed extremely dry, crackling and withered looking trees throughout Denver city parks, streets and the landscape this year. Drought, climate change, and insects are having a severe effect on much of Denver’s beloved tree population.

“September was one of the state’s hottest on record, and we’ve had statewide drought for the last year,” said Mike Swanson, Denver’s acting city forester.

Swanson said that climate change was certainly having an ill effect on the trees too.

He gave an update on the tree canopy to the Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation and other citizens’ groups the evening of Oct. 15 in University Park.

Swanson also updated the group on harm done by two deadly pests that are infesting and killing Denver trees: the emerald ash borer and the spruce ips beetle. Emerald ash was first detected in Michigan in 2002. It has since spread to 33 states and was confirmed in Boulder in 2013. The Colorado Department of Agriculture then began a quarantine with a ban on transporting infected trees out of Boulder. This may have helped slow the spread, but the insect was confirmed in Broomfield in late August, and Westminster in September. Most recently, it has been found in Berthoud in Larimer County.

Ash trees may be infested for up to four years before signs of decline are visible.

It is estimated that Denver has more than 30,000 ash trees along the public right of way, 4,500 of which are within parks and parkways, according to Denver Parks and Recreation.

Within the Denver metro area there are approximately 1.45 million ash trees, primarily on private property. To date this year, the Denver Forestry Field Operations team has removed nearly 1,000 dead or in very poor condition ash trees from the city. The forestry team has also treated over 2,000 ash trees through the city’s four-year health treatment cycle plan.

“We have also recently brought in 800 trees that are being planted in underserved areas of the city,” said Swanson.

Denver has also started a “Be a Smart Ash Program,” which is an educational and planting

Trees throughout Denver are being impacted by climate change such as early season snows and hail storms, as well as bugs that destroy them.

NANCY PROFERA program geared toward residents and private landowners that teaches them how to share in the preservation and renewal of Denver’s urban forest. The city is planting trees that it finds tolerate the arid climate which include Arizona cyprus, Bosnian pine trees, ball cyprus, and “100 sequoia trees,” said Swanson.

“It is tough to grow many trees in Colorado,” he said, “so whatever works we keep doing.”

Signs and symptoms of the ash borer in trees include sparse leaves or branches in the upper part of the tree, D-shaped exit holes approximately 1/8 inch wide, new sprouts on the lower trunk or branches, vertical splits in the bark that are winding, S-shaped tunnels in the bark, and increased woodpecker activity.

“We are spreading the word to private owners that they need to remove trees that are diseased, and please plant new ones to contribute to new growth,” said Swanson.

This year, the city has also seen an uptick in the spruce ips beetle, first detected in Longmont and Fort Collins, and then Denver. Last month the city removed 18 trees in central Denver that were infested or dead from the insect, and Swanson said this was not an isolated incident.

“We really have no clear answer as to the uptick,” he said. “It is possible it was related to the timing of our past treatments not being effective, or a lack of snow cover in 2019, or the

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occurrence of statewide drought in 2018.”

Normally, these beetles limit their attacks to trees that are already in decline or otherwise stressed, but under current weather conditions, the beetle has been allowed to improve its survival and build up a large population.

No chemical treatment exists for trees already infested.

The city’s phloem reduction of affected trees within the parks system and along the public right-of-way and on private property to treat and/or remove trees is not unlike the strategy used to fight Dutch elm disease in the 1980s to 2000s. Swanson estimates the city has 250 to 1,500 remaining Dutch elm trees.

Helene Orr, a resident of Denver since 1971 in the Overland North area and a member of the Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation, said she believes many factors are stressing the trees.

“The (emerald ash borer) and climate change are serious threats.”

Orr also believes there is too much runaway development in the city, and that the health and safety of trees is not being considered.“The city is letting developers do whatever they want, with no concern for the trees,” she said of the Denver building boom over the last several years.

Orr is working on INC’s parks committee to address these issues, including trying to get Denver parks and the city to better regulate, and even ban, events in the park that she said harm them and lead to overuse.

The extreme drop in temperature going from 80 to 9 degrees nearly overnight in early October also hurt the trees. Those temperatures caused many of the trees’ leaves to die early, because they were not yet ready for the extreme cold. Hence the “crunchy” look to many trees’ leaves this year.

“We had a terrible hail event in the spring that also stripped the trees of many of their leaves,” Swanson said. “That too is contributing to the horrible look of Denver trees this year.”

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32 Washington Park Profile

A very special

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November 2019

Kashmann FROM PAGE 10

by packed with your favorite snack if a few midnight calories will settle you down.

So, with a good sleeping bag and tent, and a few creature comforts of your own close by, the outdoors becomes a better choice for many. Not a choice they want to have to make, but under existing conditions a choice they are willing to make.

Cities across the country are struggling to address the growing crisis of homelessness in a way that changes the dynamic and actually moves towards a “solution.” It has to do with improved mental health care and drug abuse treatment. It has to do with wages that do a better job of keeping up with inflation. And it has to do with wraparound services — job training and the like — that help those who are able, to get back on their feet as independent, productive members of our community.

But there is one more large piece. I met recently with a group of University of Denver professors who wanted to know how their research could help inform public

policy. One gentleman introduced himself as a sociologist, with a research focus on homelessness. I told him that if he had a solution, to please contact me and I’d share it far and wide. Without hesitation, he offered “Build housing.” His point is very well taken.

Denver’s affordable housing fund, created a few short years ago under the leadership of Councilwoman Robin Kniech, is slowly increasing our inventory of new homes and apartments and preserving affordable units across our city. New options like land trusts are becoming part of our palette of housing products. But we are simply not moving with the velocity Denver’s housing crisis requires. While my focus is first to get folks in out of the cold, we also need affordable residences for all but the most financially fortunate — workforce families, young families starting out, veterans, seniors and others wanting, but unable, to call Denver “home.”

For me, addressing homelessness in the short term has something to do with providing regulated urban camping with shower facilities and bathrooms and trash receptacles. This has proved to be challenging for other cities that have tried it, but it

feels like something we ought to be able to figure out. We hold massive events in our city for tens of thousands. We can surely provide accommodations for a few hundred without complete chaos breaking loose.

But in the long term, as my DU friend offered, it’s about, “Build housing.” Being landlocked and already well-developed, we have limited construction sites available in our city. We should not build any residential project that does not have a relevant affordability component at its heart. “Relevant” meaning 10% is not going to get us where we need to be in this lifetime.

Council will be holding a retreat focused specifically on seeking more compassionate, effective solutions to homelessness shortly after the first of the year We do not shoot our wounded. We don’t leave them on the battlefield. We lift them up and do our best to get them back on their feet. We need to do better. We must.

Paul Kashmann represents District 6 in the Denver City Council. District 6 covers southeast Denver, which includes the Washington Park, Virginia Village, Indian Creek neighborhoods and more. He can be reached at paul.kashmann@denvergov.org.