Denver North Star May 15 - June 14 2020

Your Guide to Community, Politics, Arts and Culture in North Denver DenverNor thStar.com

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Volume 1, Issue 8

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May 15 -June 14, 2020

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ALWAYS FREE!

PHOTO FROM ISTOCK

Coronavirus Teaches 2020 Graduates a Hard Lesson

POLITICS

David Sabados

Denver Explores Cannabis Delivery

R

PAGE 3

PHOTO BY VICKY COLLINS

DINING North(side) of Normal PAGE 5

ARTS & CULTURE 1st Friday Art Walk PAGE 7

KIDS & EDUCATION Surrendering to Stopping PAGE 8

COMMUNITY Stranger in the Pandemic PAGE 9

HEALTH & WELLNESS Think Like a Dog Trainer PAGE 11

As Renters and Landlords Clash, Some Tenants Turn to Collective Bargaining

North High School delivered yard signs with graduates' names to every senior’s home. With schools closed and a ban on large gatherings, graduation ceremonies have been canceled.

NHS and Regis Graduations

Vicky Collins orth High School’s Cayden Clark-Johnson imagined graduation his entire school career.

Alondra Bahana-Reza of Strive Prep dreamed of trying on her cap and gown. Regis University student Emilyanne Kuykendall was excited for the ceremony where she would be pinned as a nurse. Coronavirus changed everything for these graduates from the class of 2020.

“It’s been tough. It’s really been emotional for all of them”, said Kate Berger, the assistant principal at North. Kate started working there at the same time these seniors started high school. She is particularly close to the class of 2020 and feels their collective disappointment.

“You look forward to senior year for your entire young life.”

North let students out in midMarch for an extended spring break. At that time no one expected this would be the abrupt end of classes. As the magnitude of the coronavirus became clear to administrators, Denver Public Schools decided to move education online and cancel in-person learning for the remainder of the year. It hit the senior class hard.

Athletics, activities and most senior traditions at North were cancelled when campuses shut down. No senior prom, no graduation ceremony and parties,

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no saying goodbye to friends and teachers. Kate says these things are consequential. “Stuff that to adults is whatever. This is not whatever. This is foundational to who they are becoming as people.”

Cayden says what’s happening now can’t be dismissed.

“All our life has been devoted to getting to this point. When you graduate finally you are an adult and you can live for yourself. Graduation symbolizes not only graduation from school but graduating into adulthood.”

The cancellation of the school musical was one of his biggest disappointments. North’s production of “9 to 5” was cancelled a week before it was scheduled to run in late March.

Cayden’s twin sister Makenna was the stage manager for the production. “This was going to be one of the biggest shows,” says Makenna. “It’s really sad that your final show, one of the best shows, will not get done and come to fruition.”

Alondra, who is the first person in her family going to college, says she should have spent more time soaking in her high school experience. “I wish I could have enjoyed and cherished the moments I spent at school. I wish I could have enjoyed it one more time because I didn’t know it was the last time.”

College students are also seeing dreams dashed. At nearby

Regis University, nursing students Emilyanne Kuykendall and Emma Cooper will leave college with a BSN degree but no pomp and circumstance.

“We’re both honor students,” says Emilyanne. “Families were coming in to see us present our projects and now it’s on Zoom.

Missing pinning is the saddest thing that got cancelled but the end goal was always to be a nurse.” Emma is trying to find the silver lining too. “Sometimes the best things are different than we imagined. We became nurses during a world pandemic which is amazing.”

Both are applying for jobs.

They would like to work at Children’s Hospital but there is no one available at this time to train young nurses so employment for these graduates is on hold.

Despite the disruptions, schools have been doing their best to honor graduates. North High School has put yard signs at the homes of every graduating senior. The class of 2020 is being recognized on Facebook and Instagram. North will have a virtual awards night with $3 million dollars in scholarships awarded on May 27 and a virtual graduation on May 28. The school is hoping to get their graduates together in person later in the year when it is safe again.

“I think this will make the

yan Leach’s recent job experience includes teaching computer programming internationally, but these days he sounds more like a community or union organizer. Leach, a tenant in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, has been organizing his fellow tenants at the Acacia building to collectively negotiate with the building’s management.

Leach said the Acacia Tenants Union (TATU), have been pushing their building management company Olive Bark to work with them collectively instead of as individual tenants. The disagreements are what you see in many articles about renters and landlords during the COVID-19 crisis: rent demand letters, evictions being halted by state and federal authorities, and all parties saying they can’t afford to pay their bills. Leach shared an email from management referenced late fees despite a moratorium on them.

Building management said it was a misunderstanding and all late fees have since been waived.

Leach said building management was posting letters that read like eviction demands despite a moratorium on those as well. The spokesperson for the company said they weren’t intended to read like eviction notices; they were only 10 day demand letters and the company was following the law. This is the back and forth of many tenants and landlords as unemployment numbers surge.

The Acacia story stands out in Denver because tenants unions aren’t a concept many Denverites

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN LEACH

See GRADUATION, Page 2 See BARGAINING, Page 4 See TRAIN, Page 2

Fill Your Garden or Sun Room with Color and Fragrance!

P OL I T I C S

Degette Talks COVID-19, Healthcare, Environment, Bread

David Sabados was a little offended when President Trump said Congress was on vacation,” Congresswoman Diana Degette said in a recent interview with The Denver North Star. Degette, who represents Denver, said she wants constituents to know that congressional offices are working and available, even though most staff are working from home.

Degette, the longest serving member of Colorado’s delegation, has represented Denver since 1997 and currently serves as Chief Deputy Whip in the House. She emphasized the multiple bills Congress passed targeted at economic recovery, with more on the way.

In addition to the stimulus checks, she pointed to the Paycheck Protection Program loans for small businesses, praising the bipartisan work in Congress.

She’s frustrated with both the President and the national banks tasked with processing loans though, saying “administration of that program has been problematic,” and that a follow up bill more specifically outlines how community banks will be involved and ensures small businesses receive a larger share. She said an upcoming aid package will also have greater focus on funds for states, local municipalities, severely impacted businesses, and she noted they are also working on including specific funds to support people experiencing homelessness.

Regarding long term policy shifts that may come out of the current cri-

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sis, Degette believes certain issues may be pushed to the forefront, including healthcare access: “A lot of us who work in the healthcare arena know that there are huge disparities. This current crisis only underscores those disparities.” She hopes that the crisis gives some motivation towards creating a universal healthcare system.

Degette says environmental efforts are another of her key priorities. With car travel down approximately 70% nationwide and many industries shut or partially operating, major cities around the world have seen cleaner air quality and there’s been an increased conversation about environmental efforts. At the same time, Democrats in Congress have been vocal in their opposition to what they see as aggressive, anti-environmental efforts from President Trump’s

“I have just been appalled by the gutting of the EPA and our environmental regulations” Degette said, noting she hopes to see some of his administration’s efforts repealed next year. administration: “I have just been appalled by the gutting of the EPA and our environmental regulations” Degette said, noting she hopes to see some of his administration’s efforts repealed next

Graduation

PHOTO COURTESY OF CONGRESSWOMAN DIANA DEGETTE'S OFFICE

year. “After this election I’m hoping we have a different president.”

Asked how she was handling stayat-home orders herself, Degette said that like many Denverites looking for masks for their families she made her own: “I got out my sewing machine that I haven’t used since I was making halloween costumes.”

While the congresswoman said she doesn’t have a lot of time for quarantine activities, working from home has given her a little time to indulge in one of her passions: “I love to cook -- I never have time to cook. Last week I made some wheat bread. Punch down the dough, take a few calls, repeat.”

Continued from Page 1

ger as a group and as individuals.”

whole class of 2020 more resilient,” says Makenna. “High school is such a big part of everyone’s life. Adults remember prom and graduation. That’s your finish line. People turn 18. You don’t realize how big that part of your life is until you look back on it.” Assistant principal Kate Berger agrees. “I have no doubt they will come out on the other side of this stron-

Vicky Collins is a freelance television producer and journalist with a diverse portfolio that includes network news, cable programming, Olympic sports, corporate and non-profit videos. Vicky has created a Facebook Community called Bucket List Community Cafe which is a digital news site for Denver's Northside.

Do you have a graduating High School or College senior you want to recognize?

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The Denver North Star

P O LI T I C S

Denver Explores Cannabis Delivery David Sabados Even before Denverites were told to stay at home as much as possible, they were already fans of delivery services.

Drizly, an app-based alcohol delivery service, said that 14 liquor stores completed over 16,000 delivery orders in North Denver in 2019 using their app.

Now the city has formed a task force to explore implementing marijuana delivery. A 2019 bill sponsored in part

by North Denver legislators Sen. Julie Gonzales and Rep. Alex Valdez allows local municipalities to opt in to marijuana delivery if they choose.

Lantern, Drizly’s sister company for cannabis delivery, recently launched on the East Coast and is looking forward to the possibility of operating in Denver.

“Denver has always been a great market for Drizly's alcohol delivery business; it's our third largest market and we have an office here”, said Jacqueline Flug, VP of Regulatory & Industry Affairs for Drizly. “Given Drizly's success, we believe Denver will also be a good market for cannabis delivery.”

While the regulatory framework is still being created, Flug said the two companies will operate separately, meaning customers can order alcohol from Drizly and marijuana products from Lantern, but not both from a single app. This is due to Colorado’s strict separation of liquor and marijuana businesses.

Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval, who represents Northwest Denver, is also optimistic about delivery but wants community feedback. "I think it's really

important when you're talking about the medicinal side,” said Sandoval, noting that some medical patients are immunocompromised or otherwise have higher health risks when they are out in public. She said she isn’t sure about delivery for recreational marijuana, however, and wants to hear more from her district before any proposals go to council.

With the workgroup recently formed, delivery is likely months away, but some dispensary owners are hoping to speed up the timeline.

“We believe that during this unprecedented time it is our industry’s obligation to support disproportionately impacted communities and high risk populations as they try to stay safely at home,” said Good Chemistry Founder and CEO Matthew Huron who has a store in LoHi. Denver City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, who represents parts of North and Central Denver, sits on the newly formed committee. She said she’s supportive of delivery but concerned about minority representation in stakeholder groups.

"The way that they roll it out will be really important," CdeBaca said. She can imagine a simple licensing system that empowers delivery workers by separating delivery licensing from specific dispensaries, giving them more freedom to work with multiple dispensaries.

Wanda James, who owns Simply Pure Dispensary in LoHi with her husband Scott Durrah and other partners, echoed Councilwoman CdeBaca’s con-

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cerns about racial inequity. She said she fully supports delivery, but believes Black and Latino business owners are too often excluded from the conversation and wants to see more representation, noting that Colorado is often a model. "How we handle social equity issues in Colorado will reflect on licensing in other, more diverse states,” said James. She pointed out that minorities had a higher rate of arrest and conviction for possession pre-legalization than white users, which barred some from ownership when legalization passed. She doesn’t want to see inequities repeated.

See DELIVERY, Page 11

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Bargaining

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are familiar with and if Leach is successful in his negotiations, other tenants across the city may follow suit.

“Opening negotiations were a shot in the dark to be honest,” said Leach who has organized what he says is a third to half of the tenants in his building to negotiate with the building’s property managers.

To put that percentage in perspective, labor unions in Colorado need 30% of employees to sign up to hold an election to unionize a workplace. This means if similar laws recognized tenant unions, Leach would have more than enough support to hold an election to form a union. While tenant unions are not usually recognized in law the same way as workplace unions, the parallels are striking.

Leach said while specific demands like a percentage reduction in rent are open to discussion, the main reason they are organized is because individual residents weren’t getting responses, something the company disputes. “We would be happy if they came to the table and negotiated with us in good faith,” said Leach.

The building management also deployed a response labor unions are accustomed to seeing from company management: bringing in outside help. In this case, a media request to Olive Bark wasn’t answered by the company employee who had handled previous requests from other media outlets, but was instead answered by Krista Crouch with the Public Relations Firm Novitas Communications. Crouch is now serving as a spokesperson for Olive Bark and Acacia. Novitas advertises themselves as “Denver’s Top Crisis Firm.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN LEACH

Crouch said they are trying to work with residents, individually or collectively, and that Olive Bark is making generous offers to residents out of work. “This is coming from a good-hearted place,” Crouch said of their offers to create payment plans for residents. The average rent in the building is $1,100/month according to Crouch, and payment plans required

tenants to pay 50% of their rent on time.

The other 50% would be paid off in subsequent months by adding $100/month until the balance is paid, something Leach said was not feasible for tenants already struggling to pay the $1,100. No tenants had been offered a reduction in rent, according to both parties.

Leach is encouraging a rent strike, where a large group of residents all refuse to pay in solidarity with others even if they can afford to pay that month. If work stoppages are one of workplace organizer’s most aggressive tactics, rent strikes are likely their tenant union analogues.

One of TATU’s demands said that the company should be using all federal provisions available to them, including one that

can have more effect than separate. “What we see both in the workplace and in housing is that the people with money are organized...we don’t see it as much with the people who are impacted by their decisions,” said Howell. She believes rent strikes and collective bargaining are tools renters may start using more. “They’re finding the power to push back economically.”

Michelle Lyng, a spokesperson for Colorado Apartment Association, says their members are going above and beyond to help renters in crisis, and the association is giving $25,000 to a fund intended to help Colorado renters in crisis. She said members have pledged around $50,000 to match them, but said that being a landlord doesn’t mean someone is wealthy.

“Honestly not every member can do payment plans,” noting that small landlords are in a tough spot and larger buildings are having to furlough employees when tenants don’t pay.

One point that Lyng and Leach seem to agree on is that the government response hasn’t made meaningful improvements to the situation. “It demonstrates a lack of understanding of the rental market,” Lyng said of a resolution passed by the Denver City Council that encouraged state and federal elected officials to freeze rent and mortgages. The apartment association also released a statement criticizing Governor Polis’ moratorium on evictions. “We also have concerns that the Governor is tying his authority to enact an eviction moratorium to an amorphous concept of economic stability, which has no statutory definition and is a largely subjective measure,” read

Leach said while specific demands like a percentage reduction in rent are open to discussion, the main reason they are organized is because individual residents weren’t getting responses, something the company disputes.

SUMMER TIME IS

IceCream Time Grand Re-opening Soon...

Plus a sweet virtual summer camp series stay tuned on our facebook & instagram littlemanicecream.com Page 4 | May 15-June 14, 2020

allows mortgage payments to be suspended and paid at a later time, which he believes would relieve pressure on all parties.

He’s also encouraged all residents to only communicate to management in writing, which he believes ensures they are being treated equally and fairly, and to create records of conversations.

Crouch said that rent strikes of that sort can actually hurt those who they are intended to help: “If somebody can afford to pay their rent, they should pay their rent. If they don’t, they are taking resources away from people who need them,” adding that management companies can’t provide help to a few residents out of work if no one is paying. She also said the company that owns the building has availed themselves of federal loans to bring back furloughed staff, but don’t want to use the forbearance the CARES act allows because it could damage the company in the long run.

Wendy Howell is the Deputy Director of Colorado Working Families, a progressive labor-aligned organization. She used to be a tenant organizer in New York City and believes renters organizing together

the May 1 statement. Regarding Denver’s actions, Leach said he was “happy to see a unanimous vote, but it has to go further,” but highlighted two freshman council members he saw as allies: Candi CdeBaca and Chris Hinds.

Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, who represents parts of North and Central Denver, also said the city needs to do more, concerned that “100,000 or more in Denver could be facing eviction,” due to lack of payment if the crisis continues. She doesn’t believe the city’s rental assistance program (TRUA) had enough capacity before the current crisis and she’s concerned the most vulnerable won’t be able to receive funds as demand increases. A spokesperson for the city said the fund is still operating despite the increased strain: “Call volume to the 311 center, seeking info on TRUA, has increased more than 5X since prior to the onset of COVID-19.

Likewise, the number of TRUA applications sent to residents per month has increased by 775% as compared to prior to COVID-19 locally.”

The Denver North Star

DI N I N G

North(side) of Normal OPEN for Take-Out and Delivery Orders (during the restaurant and bar shutdown)

Find our menu at elcaminotavern.com Please call us at 720.889.7946 to place orders.

PHOTO BY BASHA COHEN

Thank you for your support during this difficult time!

Aerial View of Linger & Little Man-As a Post-Covid food and beverage world gradually reopens, iconic restaurants like Linger and Little Man rethink their strategiesdelivery while their dining areas are closed.

Basha Cohen

A

s businesses around North Denver tiptoe into the great unknown, grand reopenings are being planned for a summer that resembles nothing normal. Dave Query, Owner and Chef of Big Red F Restaurant group including neighborhood favorites, Lola Coastal Mexican and West End Tavern said, “I can’t stand the term ‘new normal’.

There is nothing normal about this, only new.” The low margin food and beverage industry has been one of the hardest hit.

Restaurants and bars (plus scores of employees) that’ve been brought to their knees have spent the last two months trying to reinvent themselves with take out and delivery services, Zoom Happy Hours and special cocktails to-go that have put a bandaid on a wound that requires a tourniquet. The success of some of these concepts will undoubtedly carry into the Post-Covid future that has no standard blueprint to follow.

With no set date for reopenings, diminished seating capacity requirements, and a skittish public that may or may not want to venture out, restaurateurs are turning to delivery and take out as the only means of revenue. Juan Padro from Highland Tap and Burger noted that businesses who have relied on delivery services have seen 12% increases during the closure. Justin Cucci, owner of the powerhouse Edible Beats (Linger, Root Down, el Five, Vital Root and Ophelia’s) reflects, “We need to reinvent ourselves during this transition. We are seeking ways to create an experience through our delivery service that brings the passion of our restaurants into people’s homes.” One of LoHi’s newest eateries, The Dimestore Delibar, a cross between a restaurant, bar, takeaway charcuterie and local Bodega convenience store offers guests a chance to grab and go Chef Dotson’s signature Dimeroll deli sandwich plus a package of Tide in person, delivered curbside or at home. The Bindery has run a strong email marketing campaign to encourage curbside pickup and memorable meals. On Cinco de Mayo Chef Linda Hampsten Fox created a curbside grill featuring Baja style tacos and margaritas to go.

The Family Jones Spirit House has searched for ways to bring vibrancy and hope to the Lower Highland community, too. The distillery has created hand sanitizer from its alcohol to donate to homeless shelters. It has held Zoom Cocktail Parties hosted by bartender, Nick Touch and distillery master, Rob Masters, that teaches the art of the pour with pre-ordered cocktail kits.

They celebrated Mother’s Day with special packages featuring cocktails and food, as well as gifts and flowers in collaboration with local business partners like Honeycomb & Co., Sacred Thistle and Symmetry 360 Massage.

Other notables from the Highlands and Berkeley like Fire on the Mountain, Blue Pan Pizza, Himchuli, Post Oak Barbecue,

Page 5 | May 15-June 14, 2020

Parisi and Billy’s Inn have fine tuned their take-away approach with long, socially distanced lines outside clamoring for something that doesn’t resemble leftovers.

FOTM owner, Andrea West, acknowledged North Denver for its loyalty, “Fire on the Mountain is grateful for the incredible outpouring of support from our community.

We've stayed busy with curbside pickup and delivery, especially with the added bonus of to go cocktails! We were super fortunate to receive stimulus funding relatively early on, and since then we have been able to bring almost all of our hard-working staff back on board. We plan to continue this model for the foreseeable future for the safety of our employees and guests.”

When Little Man Ice Cream shuttered its doors in mid March, voices rang out on Facebook and Instagram, “How can you close? Ice cream is essential.” (Luckily for Northsiders, Sweet Cow remained open.)

To bring a little joy for the pent up demand, Little Man featured several pop-up events at rotating locations that pre-sold pint packs and ice cream sandwiches online.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. As summer approaches the ice cream emporium is planning its comeback. New approaches to selling more grab-and-go pints, creating safe distancing practices in its infamous lines, no seating, and stringent sanitization, mask and glove policy for its staff are amongst some of the plans being developed. Community events that have brought hundreds of people together weekly to share a scoop and a movie or swing dance, are being reimagined. The company is looking at everything from a virtual summer camp, to online jam sessions supporting local musicians, to a “Saturday Sofa Swing” that keeps the rockstep going with Kenny Nelson’s Swingin’ Denver providing virtual dance lessons at home. As owner, Paul Tamburello puts it, “So much of the Little Man experience is about building community. Whether it is on our plaza or in our guest’s home, as we come back it’s all about the love.”

A myriad of other ideas are being test-driven for business longevity. Northside native, Loren Martinez, owns Adrift Tiki Bar and Restaurant. His team led by Josh Duncan created a special collection of Tiki Cocktails and DIY Spam Musubi Kits that bring the tropics right to guests' doorsteps.

Martinez has been thrilled with the results, in particular because “100% of the profits have gone back to our staff to help them through this difficult time. We are grateful for the legal extension of cocktail deliveries in the coming month which has helped keep us afloat.”

A local development in the Chaffee Park/Regis neighborhood, Zuni Plaza (49th and Zuni), is creating a pop-up truck stop on Tuesday and Friday featuring food

Parisi will continue curbside and carry-out as long as necessary. We are creating plans to ease our customers back into dining-in.

Stay tuned also for online ordering.

Please visit

www.ParisiDenver.com

for our menus, hours and latest updates on “re-opening,” liquor take-out, menu adjustments, Parisi protocols, etc.

4401 Tennyson, Berkeley (NW Denver)

(303) 561-0234

A huge thank you to the community for supporting us!

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How a House Full of DJs Adapt During Stay-at-Home Orders

David Sabados y fiance and I walk our dog through Sunnyside every day.

During social distancing, this is one of the few activities that gets us out of the house, but “out of the house” doesn’t always equal “exciting.” That is, of course, until the day we saw a scene that could have been out of the 1995 cult classic film “Empire Records.” There, in the middle of our neighborhood, on an ordinary roof, on an ordinary day, was a man with his DJ equipment, performing a set.

Christian Foresee and James Mullins were accustomed to playing at bars and clubs but, like everyone else, had to figure out how to adapt when stay-at-home orders went into effect. Along with a third roommate who is also a DJ, they were holed up in their home in Sunnyside. Looking for a way to continue performing, they took their sets online, setting up their gear in their house, and at times on their roof.

“There’s so many new avenues for us with live streams,” said Foresee, noting that while they are performing it’s a huge lifestyle adjustment. “Going from a very social lifestyle to none at all is an adjustment for sure.”

Mullins agreed, saying the lack of live performances is not just hard on them socially, but financially as well.

“I’m hanging in there -- just going day by day.” He’s picked up work at a local pizza shop.

The two said their music embraces the principle of “PLUR:” peace, love, uni-

M

PHOTO BY DAVID SABADOS

With bars and clubs closed, Christian Foresee now does livestream shows from his house. ty, and respect. Foresee said he and his roommates are “trying to bring some happiness -- we want people to dance and have a good time.”

They said many of their performances on the roof were popular with neighbors who would come out to the street to listen, but they pulled them back inside to be courteous to neighbors who didn’t enjoy the daytime concerts.

If you’re interested in checking out their music, find them online: James Mullins Facebook: www.facebook.com/JukeKnobz/ or Instagram: @JukeKnobz Christian Foresee Facebook: www.facebook.com/Christian.Foresee or mixcloud: www.mixcloud.com/ForeseeMusic

Smiley Branch Library Prepares for Upcoming Renovation

Hannah Evans

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hroughout the city, Denver Public Library locations have expanded virtual services and programming during the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting closures.

For one of Northwest Denver’s libraries, the Smiley Branch, reopening to the public will be on a somewhat different timeline than the community’s other locations – this 102 year-old building is busy preparing for a much needed and long anticipated renovation. Scheduled to begin in May, the renovation’s construction and its resulting closure time will last at least six months.

In November of 2017, Denver voters approved measure 2E, also known as the Elevate Denver Bond Program. Along with other projects such as an expansion to Denver Health and necessary transportation updates, the ten year general obligation bond provides funding for Denver Public Library to renovate its Central Library and ten locations around the city, including Smiley.

Located in Berkeley Park at 46th and Utica, this charming neighborhood Carnegie library opened in 1918. Smiley Branch Library is small but mighty. At just under five thousand square feet total, the main floor contains a collection with consistently high circulation numbers, while the cozy basement hosts a wide variety of programming and much-loved story times. Smiley’s last renovation was in 1992, and since that time this well-frequented building has developed many needs in order to keep up with its growing community.

Updates to the ramp entrance and public restrooms will address accessibility issues, while restorations and repairs will help preserve this Denver Historic Land-

Page 6 | May 15-June 14, 2020

mark’s protected façade. Upgrades to the basement community room will provide a better space for the area’s many uses, which include studying, craft nights, film screenings, children’s programming, and everything else in between. The upstairs will maintain its collection size and iconic built-in shelving while reconfiguring the layout to provide comfortable and more functional seating as well as computer space. The Denver Public Library is working closely with Studiotrope Design Collective to ensure that this project addresses Smiley’s needed updates while respecting and maintaining the library’s unique and much appreciated historic character.

Smiley closed to the public due to the COVID-19 outbreak on March 13th. While the library branch already planned to pack up for renovations in May, it became clear as time went on and the pandemic-related closures continued that Smiley would unfortunately not be able to reopen before its scheduled renovation.

Smiley’s staff will temporarily relocate to other Denver Public Library locations as construction is completed, and they plan to return once the branch reopens. The one exception is Dana Richardson, Smiley’s long standing librarian, who is retiring. Dana has been at Smiley since 1994 and is best known for his popular banjo and ukulele-filled story times. Northwest Denver has enjoyed Dana’s warm welcomes, friendly chats, and fun-filled story times for many years. At Smiley, we are sad to see Dana go, but are excited to wish him all the best as he enjoys playing music, caring for his much-loved dogs and cats, and spending his time doing whatever he wants! Thank you, Dana, for all of your hard work and dedication to Smiley and its community.

The Denver North Star

ARTS & C ULT URE

David Sabados

Missing Art Walks, Neighbors Create Their Own 1st Friday

The first Friday of each month Denverites are normally out walking between art galleries, bars, and other small businesses. Missing the art walks, some residents decided to create their own! Professional, hobbyist, and amateur artists all placed artwork on their lawns and fences for neighbors to enjoy. Follow the links to learn more about the artists!

Gray Carstens: instagram.com/gray_ carstens_photography

Jaeyoon, Lola, and Joe Franzen added some musical accompaniment to the artwalk

Hannah, the youngest participant, shows off her artwork (sale prices unknown)

“Danger, Mischief Zone” - Marlene C. Feinholz www.marlenefeinholz.com

Photos by Sharon Bankert, skateboard

by Matt Beranek

PHOTOS BY DAVID SABADOS

Jessie Rae LeJeune: www.Lifethroughlensesandlines.com

Neighbors admire Jill Carsten’s and her son’s “Quarantine Gallery”

instagram.com/rebaxplosion

Matt Joshua: instagram.com/ treelinegeometric

Dominic (left) and his boss Elsie (right) paint neighbor Sarah Kreider’s garage

Jessie Rae LeJeune and Matt Joshua turn her front lawn into an art gallery

CHECKING OUT

T

imes continue to be strange, and it can be difficult to read for pleasure right now.

Many of us have entirely new responsibilities HANNAH EVANS eating up the majority of our days during the closures. Others might find themselves at home more than usual with technically less of a busy schedule, but still frequently wondering where all that spare time went. Personally, I’ve had trouble slowing down to enjoy a good book, and I’ve heard similar comments from other readers as well. Times like these call for something short, sweet, action-packed, and unique.

Sarah Gailey’s “Upright Women Wanted” (2020, tor.com) fits the bill perfectly. Set in the not-too-distant future that looks much like the Wild West, this novella opens with Esther, the daughter of a government official, hiding away in

Page 7 | May 15-June 14, 2020

Upright Women

the back of the Librarian’s wagon. Esther is escaping her hometown after her best friend and secret lover, Beatriz, is hanged for possession of Unapproved Materials.

Under the belief that joining up with the seemingly pious book peddlers will redeem Esther, she is in for a shock when she discovers the truth – that the unassuming Librarians are actually a subversive group of queer bandits who are rebelling against fascist powers that be.

While short, “Upright Women Wanted” packs a punch. The sparse but brutal Arizona desert landscape is palpable, and while there is little time or space for Gailey to really build the story’s future world or describe the ins and outs of its oppressive regime, the western feel grounds the story in familiarity while offering the genre a refreshing and new twist. Esther is a sweet and likeable lead who struggles with being true to herself while doing what she believes is right, es-

pecially once her perspective takes a 180 when she meets people more like herself than she initially realizes.

Esther initially enjoys the State-provided Approved Materials that “made sure that everyone had the same information, the same stories and the same songs to share, the same videos to watch [that] united the entire country, reinforcing the values of the citizens,” but she wonders if there might be other stories that more closely reflect her own reality. Spending time with the nonconformist Librarians opens her eyes – Esther sees the importance of access to a wide variety of stories and experiences to show that there is so much more out there. After sharing her past with a fellow traveler and expressing her guilt and sadness for loving another woman, Esther’s companion questions, “You really believe all that? About how there’s only one end in sight for people like you? You only think that because

you’ve never seen different.” By learning to question the limited information she’s allowed to access and the motivations of the corrupt world she lives in, Esther opens herself up to new experiences, new friendships, and new ways of thinking.

“Upright Women Wanted” presents a diverse cast of characters in a story that challenges norms while maintaining a fun and adventurous spirit.

Though currently a standalone story, it feels like there is much for Gailey to expand upon and develop into a longer novel or a series.

You can check out “Upright Women Wanted” online as an ebook through denverlibrary.org as well as in print at your closest branch library once it reopens.

Hannah Evans is the senior librarianat the Smiley Branch of the Denver Public Library.

The Denver North Star

K I DS & ED U CATI O N

LETTERS FROM MISS JILL

Surrendering to Stopping

The Missouri Synod

Your neighbors at Faith Lutheran Church invite you to visit.

Our services are traditional – no screens, no drums or cymbals, no hype of any kind – based upon God’s Word - the Bible.

Come learn what Lutherans believe Jesus has done for all mankind through His death and resurrection!

COVID-19 permitting, May 17 Service at 9:30am Visit our website www.faith-lutheran-lcms.org for more information.

4785 Elm Court, Denver

Summer Art Camps Small class sizes following all CDC Safety Guidelines

for 6-12 yrs old 3850 High Court, Wheat Ridge

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10% Sibling Discount

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Page 8 | May 15-June 14, 2020

A

s unpleasant as this pandemic has been, I have witnessed some pleasing scenes happening on a daily basis; families gathered in their JILL CARSTENS yards together, dads walking with strollers, Instagram pictures exhibiting downright peaceful examples of simple family bliss, embracing home. I have known intrinsically, from my own childhood, that we can usually get along with less than we think we need and that, very often, children seek and do what they need to do on their own.

Our lives can be so full, maybe too full sometimes. Many, especially older kids, have ample loads of activities. It seems every moment is scheduled, not only homework, but sports, jobs and other extracurricular activities. And now all that has stopped.

How does one know how to handle “empty” time when most of their time has been scheduled?

This has been hard, stopping. But as time has accumulated during our stayat-home requirement, there has been a shift. As we all un-schedule, I believe we are relaxing a little, realizing some things that were known by folks of another time period; the value of stopping.

I, myself, am a “do-er,” a “type-A” a multi-tasker and a bit of a perfectionist.

Stress is not unknown to me. But I am also a maker, a reader and a lover of quiet.

When the busy part of me is worn out, the lover of solitude takes over. It might be the part I was lucky to retain from that idyllic childhood. Now, during this stay-home time period, my two halves have sort of blended into this maker that wakes up to a loosely scheduled art-making time that segues into other tasks that need to get done, but in a much more relaxed manner. I like it. I have surrendered to this new way of living right now.

Surrendering is indeed what we all must do, in between the mask wearing, sanitizing and social-distancing. Sometimes disruptive events provide us with otherwise unforeseen opportunities. I see evidence of a mostly happy “new-normal” as we discover a slower, sort of old fashioned way of being. Once my husband and son accepted that we were not going to the mountains or see friends, we segued into a new rhythm. We busy ourselves daily with stay-home work or projects, respecting each other’s space, and then we convene for a substantial dinner and some TV-watching in the evenings. I’ve been doing all of the cooking and my husband and son cleanup, my son, originally

reluctantly. But last night I realized, as they cleaned up together, they have been having lively, intentional conversations. I will definitely miss all that when my son gets social again and doesn’t show up for dinner as much…

I hope all of your children are moving past uttering, “I’m bored” and have discovered a rhythm. If this does not seem the case, refrain from attempting to solve the problem of boredom and see if they can figure it out. If necessary you can provoke them positively with leading statements or questions, such as “When was the last time you used your art supplies?” or “I wonder if there are any Ladybugs in the garden…” They might discover they have some great ideas burrowed in their brain, they just needed that pause of “nothing” to unearth it. This is healthy and will help their brains grow in different ways than if you immediately try to fill the void for them.

If your household is chaotic, (I know many families with 3 children under the age of 5) you might have to manufacture your own stopping. Insist on quiet time at least once a day. As time goes on, I hope this will become part of your children’s inner clocks and rhythm, forever. We all need to know how to stop for a bit. Leave out quiet activities like puzzles, crayons and books for this time. Perhaps put on some contemplative music. I recommend Chopin’s Nocturne, opus 9 number 2, Debussy’s Claire de Lune, or the jazz pianist, Bill Evans. You could put this music on and all just lay down on a blanket together or have it playing in the background. “Stillpoints are life’s little moments of gold that, when taken together, can give brilliance and joy to otherwise dull days. Stillpoints are the little times, brief interludes, quick respites, one minute breaks, breathers, intermissions, and lulls…they consist as much as possible of doing nothing…and are the backbone that holds up the structure.” – Dr. David Kundtz, author of the book “Stopping.”

If this “new-normal” does not stick, I hope we all at least recognize the value of these quieter times. What will you miss?

If you have questions, need suggestions, or maybe just want to vent, shoot me an email: jillatreadytolearn@gmail.com. I have time.

Jill Carstens is a proud Denver native, a passionate mom and a teacher. She picked North Denver as her home base in 1997, and has run Milestones Preschool since 2011. If you have ideas for an article or further questions for Miss Jill, you can email her at jillatreadytolearn@gmail.com.

Normal

Continued from Page 5 trucks with sweet, savory and cocktail components for pick-up. Project Manager, Rene Doubleday noted, “This is an opportunity to test drive a proof of concept for going forward that brings a much needed service to the neighborhood.”

Covid-19 has forever changed our world, but it has also showcased resilience and creativity. While our community has been separated, it has oddly become closer. We share a common learning curve that allows no complacency, but instead a chance to grow and learn from one another. It's time we all don our masks and forge the path to our reimagined future. Be safe out there and show your Northside Pride by helping local businesses survive. Bon Appetit!

PHOTO BY BASHA COHEN

To-go and delivery services are creating the only source of revenue for restaurants and bars throughout Denver currently.

The Denver North Star

C O M M UN I T Y

SHAPING OUR FUTURE BY REMEMBERING OUR PAST

Relating to the Stranger in the Pandemic; A Family History F

or many years after my mother's family migrated north from their home downtown on the old Auraria campus, the Flahertys DENNIS GALLAGHER rented a small worker's cottage in North Denver at 2528 Hooker Street. It was just south of an unpaved city alley so the family got used to lots of local foot traffic. As the robin flies, that was a direct line from old St Dominic's church on West 25th and Grove Street -- now urban apartments. You could see the Flaherty's backdoor from the church on Grove. My grandfather worked in a famous downtown pub called Madden's Wet Goods on 11th and Larimer.

Yes, that's Wet Goods as opposed to Dry Goods. He then got a job as a mill worker at J. K. Mullen's Hungarian Flour, where the mill lofts are now off 20th Street.

Nora Flaherty at her home at 2528 Hooker St. My grandmother could see hooded Klansmen burning a cross in front of St. Dominic's Church in 1925. This served as a warning to strangers from foreign countries, like my beautiful grandmother, who moved into North Denver.

She often talked about that night and how sad it was that we had such folks in North Denver.

During the Great Depression, it was the custom of the priests at St. Dominic's parish to hand out food parcels to hungry petitioners trying to live day-to-day through our nation's worst economic disaster. When the priests ran out of foodstuffs they would point to my grandparents’ backdoor to the house on Hooker and say "I'm sorry God's pantry has run out. We have no more, but ask Mrs. Flaherty, she's very generous and may have some food for you." So the homeless would knock on my family's back door

and the Flahertys gave away what they could share to the strangers.

Once my mother asked her mom, "Why do we give away food to these strangers from the railroad yards?"

"Nellie," my grandmother replied, "in Ireland where I was born, there is a custom among the people to always give food to the stranger because God wants us to share and the Irish folks believed that the stranger could be St. Joseph in disguise testing our generosity and our faith." You could not mistake my grandmother's origin of birth in West Cork in Ireland. And she never lost her mellifluous and melodious accent, “like listening to the angels” her neighbors used to say of her.

My dad's father lost his job on the old Moffat Railroad around this same time.

The Gallaghers lost their house in Tabernash, Colorado and moved down to Denver. The girls, my aunts, all went to St. Clare's Orphanage and my dad and my uncle went to live for two years at St. Vincent's Orphanage on West 41st and Lowell. The building is still there. My dad told me, as loving as the nuns at the orphanage were, it was no substitute for a home with a mother and father. My Grandfather Gallagher went out of state and my Grandmother Gallagher became the caretaker of the Wheeler Block on West 29th and Wyandotte. It is also still there.

She got to see the children by visiting the orphanages which separately housed her children. It was tough, but they made it through. Our family reunions were like stories from “Angela's Ashes”, a collection of orphanage stories. It took my grandfather two years to get back to work for the Rio Grande Railroad, from which he retired after 40 years.

One day my mother was handing out parcels at the back door and my grandmother heard my mother send a petitioner away from the door.

"Nellie why did you turn away that man and not give him a food parcel?" My grandmother could hear my mother's abrupt dismissal as she was ironing. The family was in the dining room.

"Momma, that man was no St. Joseph.

That man had the smell of liquor on his breath." The irony of our ethnic identity and the pervasive influence of the drink on our culture and people must have made my grandmother smile.

Without a beat my grandmother said, "Oh, Nellie, go get that poor man. That

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Left: Nora Flaherty Right: Kitty Sweeney could be Saint Patrick himself." This comment helped my mother realize she had to be open-minded in dealing with the stranger and develop an understanding of the human foibles of “others.”

Many cultures harbor deep-seated folk wisdom about how important it is to offer the stranger in our midst, hospitality.

Like the ancient Greek, the Irish believe that the gods want us to share hos-

Nellie Flaherty at St Dominic’s School In North Denver pitality with the strangers. Turning away strangers from your door would bring down disfavor from the gods and could bring punishment from the gods.

We remember Abraham and Sarah displayed legendary hospitality for strangers at their doors by the oaks of Mamre near Hebron.

The renowned French Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, after seeing the

devastation and destruction of World War II, went even further by stating that as soon as one sees the face of the "other" we have an ethical obligation to help the stranger, the "other." He argued further that in the face of the "other", the stranger, we behold the face of God himself. In serving the "other" in our lives, we serve God. Today the face is covered with a protective mask for making sure no one brings harm to one another.

My Grandmother Flaherty did not attend the Sorbonne where Levinas taught ethics and philosophy in Paris.

But she taught her children and grandchildren a concern and folk wisdom for the stranger and the "other" which not only taught how to treat each other, but put these common sense principles into practice. I thought this reflection might help us remember that we are all in the pandemic together, good citizens helping each other for our similarities not hating each questioning each other over any differences. It was a great gift she gave us which set us apart. We thank her and treasure this gift of hospitality to the strangers in our midst.

Si se puede, together we can make it through.

The Honorable Dennis Gallagher is a former city auditor, city councilman, state senator and state representative sharing thoughts and stories from North Denver’s past and future.

Tips on Preventing Personal Property Theft G

reetings to all the residents and businesses in Northwest Denver from Denver Police District #1.

OFFICER What a month it has BOB ANDERSON been. I sincerely hope that everyone is doing the best that they can with all of the challenges and changes in our community. DPD District #1 is committed to this community and keeping all of the residents and businesses safe. We are continually adapting with the recommended health related advisories and instructions. We truly appreciate our community participating as well, as this is truly a team effort.

This month I wanted to share some reminders related to activity that can easily be avoided by taking some simple proactive steps. These reminders are good to

Page 9 | May 15-June 14, 2020

think about while we are in the spring and summer months. · Theft from motor vehicles. If your vehicle is broken into, it certainly is not a good day as there are many things to deal with after such as repairs, insurance claims, replacement of documents and personal items. DPD urges residents to NEVER leave items of value inside a vehicle that are clearly visible from the outside. Taking a few extra seconds to take items inside or securing them properly makes a big difference and will certainly make your vehicle less of a target for would be thieves. Please always keep your windows up and your doors locked if your vehicle is unoccupied, even if it is on your own driveway or in a garage. If the vehicle is parked outside, try to park in an area that has lighting as that is a very simple theft prevention technique. · Garage Burglaries. With the nice

weather we notice that there are many residential and business garages that are left open and unattended. There are many tempting items in garages that are an easy score for criminals. DPD recommends keeping your garages closed at all times when not actively in use, even when home. Please enjoy this nice weather and keep your tools, bicycles and whatever else is your garage where they belong -- to you.

If you live in an apartment please make sure that unauthorized vehicles or individuals are not entering along with you. · Package Thefts. Online shopping and delivery is more prevalent now than ever.

Please take the time to arrange deliveries so they arrive when you are at the delivery location. If you are unable to coordinate a delivery time, consider alternatives such as secure delivery lockers, signature required deliveries, neighbor’s residences or even your workplace if your

workplace allows that option. Avoid having to re-order items that never make it into your hands. Keep an eye on things with a doorbell camera.

If you are unfortunately a victim of any of these crimes listed, DPD urges you to report them as soon as possible. Reporting is helpful even on minor incidents as sometimes a minor report can help solve multiple incidents.

DPD District 1 values our partnership with the community and until next month, stay safe and healthy. ~ Officer Bob Bob Anderson # 04109 | Community Resource Officer - Denver Police District 1, 1311 W. 46th Ave. Denver, CO 80211| City and County of Denver District 1 Community Resource Officer Bob Anderson is a Denver Native and had served the Citizens of Denver since 2004.

The Denver North Star

CO M M U N I TY

H E A LTH & WEL L NESS

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

THE GRAY ZONE: STORIES CONNECTED TO NORTH DENVER’S OLDER ADULTS

People Making a Difference Denver North Star Staff

M

N

orth Denver has had our shares of ups and downs, but we know that community comes together when it matters most. We’re highlighting community members who are making a difference in our new segment. If you know a person, organization, or local business who deserves recognition, email news@DenverNorthStar. com to let us know.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHERINE CORNWELL PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS SANDOVAL

The Denver Elks Lodge was shrinking only a few years ago, but has rebounded and grown in membership. Members decided to utilize their growing community in order to give back, donating $1,000 each to both Bienvenidos and to Food for Thought Denver. You can read more about the Elks on their website: https://www.elks.org/lodges/ home.cfm?LodgeNumber=17

Katherine Cornwell started Sunnyside Urban Farm in her backyard, selling seedlings and plants. This year, she’s donating the entire profit of her seedling sales to Bienvenidos Food Bank. Cornwell, who helped make more backyard food sales legal in Denver, has raised over $2,000 and Sunnyside United Neighbors matched the first $500. Visit https:// sunnysideurbanfarm.square.site/ for more information.

Dear Patients and Neighbors, In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we would like to reach out in service to all of you even if you haven’t been one of our patients in the past.

We are here to answer your questions and to provide information on both standard and integrative medical care for prevention and treatment of numerous issues.

Do you have questions about COVID-19?

Are you wondering if you should be tested?

Are the supplements you’re taking helping?

This is a difficult time for everyone.

If you are feeling anxious or depressed, we can also help address some of those issues.

We are providing telemedicine visits to discuss your individual concerns or situation. Most insurances are now covering these visits.

We are also available to see those with significant pain or injury on a case by case basis.

Please follow our Colorado Osteopathic & Integrative Medicine Associates facebook page for more information.

We are all in this together and we are here for you.

It’s about Health...isn’t it about Time!

TM

Colorado Osteopathic & Integrative Medicine Associates 4901 W. 38th Avenue (at Xavier St.), Denver, CO 80212 www.cointegrative.com 303-781-7862 Most Insurance Plans Accepted

Page 10 | May 15-June 14, 2020

Find Your Way as a Family Historian

y phone buzzed with a barrage of texts from a distant cousin. I scrolled through vignettes KATHRYN WHITE and photos connected to my birth family. Referring to a great great grandmother I never knew, this cousin’s 75-year-old sister wrote, “Katie…was creaky and croaky. Smoked like a fiend, had long fingernails and raised Merlin while Grover lived in the woods.” I thought to myself, “Wow, fascinating.” And then, “What do I do with all this?”

I visited a Zoom classroom a few days later. My daughter and her graduating class of Industrial Design students from the University of Illinois at Chicago presented their senior thesis projects. One student described her multilingual smartphone app for families to capture, share and pass down family stories. It was a tender project: she didn’t want geographic and language barriers to keep her from knowing her ancestors. I sat in awe as I watched this student, my daughter, and others leverage design skills in order to foster deeper connections in today’s world.

There are as many ways to gather family stories and there are tender reasons to get started. I picture continua from formal to informal, high-tech to low-tech, single-authored to cousin crowd-sourced. Every family’s cast of characters had its connections with history that combined to shape today’s generation. And each of us can play a role in capturing it.

North Denver alum Gregory Ravenwood leaned on his graphics background and passion for family history to lead a high-tech project that resulted in a stunning eBook of photos and stories from his mother and her two living siblings.

Ravenwood developed a set of questions based on lists he found online, tailoring the list based on what he knew about his mom’s family and the region of Louisiana where they grew up. He recruited cousins’ families for tech skills. Videotaped interviews took place at a dining room table, awash with natural light. “It was fun. They laughed a lot. I served them some nice snacks…fruit and chocolate and wine.”

My own attempts to collect family history sit at the opposite end of the continuum: cryptic notes on scraps of paper, randomly selected letters, envelopes of photos. One year I purchased small archival boxes to store mementos from deceased family members.

Whether you’re equipped to lead a formal family history project or are simply looking to harvest some juicy stories, here are 7 tips to get you started: 1. Curiosity is your best tool. Ask open-ended questions like “Say more about…” and, “How so?”

2. Settle on a system for gathering and organizing material that works for you. There’s no judging here. Scraps of paper in a designated box are just fine.

That box will be a goldmine someday.

3. Create visuals that help you make sense of connections. A family tree has merit but can be limiting for even the most “traditional” families. For fami-

SAMPLING OF GREG RAVENWOOD’S INTERVIEW QUESTIONS • What stories did you hear from your parents about their lives before you were born?

• What did they tell you about earlier ancestors whom you didn’t know well or never knew?

• What do you remember about your grandparents?

• What were your interactions with siblings like growing up?

• What did you do as a family on holidays? How about birthdays?

• How did your parents handle money and work ethic with you as you grew up? What were your duties around the house as kids? What skills did you learn and who taught them?

• Did any world events have a significant impact on family life?

• Did you participate in or do you have any memories of social movements that impacted your generation?

• Was there a moment or an event in which you felt you’d arrived as a grown up, or person independent of your original family?

• If you had the opportunity to speak or spend time with family who have departed, who would it be, and what would you do? lies like mine, it’s downright useless. I blend timelines and bubble charts with trees and winding rivers.

4. Talk to as many people as you can about the same person or event. Listen for new details and perspectives.

Memories and values vary from person to person, even amongst close siblings recounting the same historical event or family experience.

5. Follow dotted lines to unexpected people.

6. Share what you’re learning. Ask cousins what they know. Foster storytelling and listening.

7. Bring heart and knowledge of painful histories with you to the conversations. Some stories are hard to tell, or perhaps even hard to hear.

You may come across taboos from an earlier era or long-hidden secrets and traumas. Let those moments be about healing; it’s okay to set aside the notepad for a while.

Kathryn has lived in North Denver since around the time the Mount Carmel High School building was razed and its lot at 3600 Zuni became Anna Marie Sandoval Elementary. She teaches a SilverSneakers fitness class at Highland Senior Recreation Center and facilitates Simplified Pickleball and a Caregiver Support Group for the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter. Do you have story ideas for The Gray Zone? Email thegrayzone.denvernorthstar@ gmail.com. Send tips on neighborhood deals and discounts for older adults to The Gray Zone.

The Denver North Star

HE A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Irritable with Your Quarantine Companions?

It’s Time to Think like a Dog Trainer W

ith Colorado under stay-athome orders, we’re discovering that quarantines make folks irritable with the people COURTNEY CHANDLER around them. While understandable, if left unchecked, irritability could become self-perpetuating.

I’ve been there, and I used my dog training know-how to develop a tool to reclaim harmony. I call it, “radical gratitude.”

Six years ago, after moving to Denver, my husband and I suddenly found ourselves inhabiting the same space 24-7, with only each other for company. Eventually, we noticed that we were bickering, a lot.

So I sat down, and started thinking like a dog trainer. It sounds silly, but learning theory can be used to adjust a wide array of behaviors, even in humans.

In dog training, we tell our clients to focus on what their dog is doing right. We

ask them to look for every opportunity to reward their dog. Focusing on what’s right, shifts the underlying dynamic from tension to harmony, because dog and human are motivated to work together instead of against each other.

I realized my husband and I had been fixating on all the wrong things, like messy counters. We needed to focus on the things we appreciated. That’s when the answer came to me: radical gratitude.

Conscious, proactive gratitude for every good thing, large or small.

My husband and I implemented it right away. We looked for any reason to express our gratitude with words, smiles, and hugs.

The sniping and squabbling diminished practically overnight, and were replaced with affection and openness. We were also, incidentally, training each other to do more nice things. We still irked each other sometimes, but annoyance was short-lived.

Now, during lock-down, you might be

finding yourselves in circumstances similar to those that led to my own feedback loop of bickering. If you want to implement radical gratitude in your own relationships, here are 4 easy steps: Step 1: Look for any good thing, big or small, that someone does or says.

Step 2: Take a moment to appreciate it.

Recognize it as a gift. Try to feel your gratitude in your body.

Step 3: Express your gratitude genuinely.

Try to convey your gratitude so the other person feels it.

Step 4: Repeat with intention.

While radical gratitude is not a panacea for all life’s ills, it could be a valuable tool in facing isolation and confinement.

There’s only one way to find out.

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Courtney Chandler is a writer and dog trainer, living and working in the Berkeley neighborhood of Denver. You can read more of her musing on behavior at WagAndLearn.com

COMMUNITY WELLNESS INSTIGATOR

Your Wellness Secret Weapon "T

ake a deep breath.”

It’s great advice. Breathing is the most fundamental function of human life. We can exist for ERIKA TAYLOR days without food and water, but oxygen? Just minutes. The average person takes 16 breaths per minute. At 80 you’ll have breathed around 672,768,000 times.

So it’s weird that we are so very unskilled at it!

Life can make us feel like we are holding our breath. And many of us probably are.

But here’s the truth; you were likely not breathing efficiently before you ever heard the word ‘pandemic.’ And you aren’t alone.

Picture an infant in a crib. Their breath flows effortlessly, belly rising as the breath comes in, contracting as it goes out. Shoulders and jaw are relaxed, their mouth is likely closed. They can roll over, sit up, crawl, even walk all while processing oxygen like a rockstar.

So if it’s so easy even a baby can do it why can't WE???

In a healthy breath pattern, our diaphragm does the work for us. Abdominal muscles relax while our diaphragm contracts downward. Intercostal muscles expand the rib cage, lowering the air pressure in our lungs and creating a vacuum in the chest. Air flows inward in response to the vacuum.

Trauma, stress, even being told to suck in our tummies can change this physiology. Our shoulders lift, our spine curls.

Delivery

Continued from Page 3 Eric Escudero, the Director of Communications for Excise and Licenses, said the city is dedicated to an inclusive process. "We think we have assembled a very diverse group that will do a great job giving the City the input needed to decide whether Denver will opt in to marijuana delivery or hospitality and help us achieve our social equity goals," said Escudero.

Not everyone is excited about the idea of delivery though. Smart Colorado formed after legalization passed in 2013

Page 11 | May 15-June 14, 2020

We draw in a fast, shallow breath to the top of our lungs because our brain thinks we need oxygen quickly. Once the threat is passed, diaphragmatic breathing should resume. But in our fast-paced, over-informed, hyper-connected world, the moments between perceived threats may not be enough.

Shallow shoulder-lead breath can become a way of life.

For many, their breathing dysfunction started at school. School can mean sitting. The more room our lungs have to take in oxygen, the easier it is for them to do their job. Posture is key to this. Try to blow air into a balloon while you stand on it. Impossible! You may get some air in but you’ll never fill it. The same is true when we slump at a desk. Add a screen or keyboard into the mix and we exacerbate the issue. Our shoulders round forward, collapsing the chest and rib cage.

Our abdominal muscles stretch and weaken. The intercostal muscles and diaphragm can't contract effectively to create a good vacuum. With the abdomen compressed, our organs can't get out of the way. We don't take in nearly as much air as our lungs actually can hold. Since we don’t get enough oxygen per breath, we breathe more often, recruiting muscles in our shoulders and neck that were never meant to have anything to do with our breathing. Chronic back, neck, hip, and shoulder pain often ensue.

Are you ready for the good news? The super-secret weapon each of us has at our disposal - Breathing.

Let’s try it. Lie down on your back with your feet on the floor. Go ahead! I’ll wait.

• Place your hands on your abdomen (above your hip bones, below your ribs) • Rest your tongue gently on the roof of your mouth.

• Inhale through your nose sending breath downward and feel your hands rise.

• Exhale, your hands return as your abdomen presses the air up and out.

• Feel your ribs expand as you inhale and knit together as you exhale.

• Notice your back expand against the floor as you inhale and draw in as you exhale.

• Repeat, notice your entire torso from hips to chest expand and contract in 360 degrees.

Whenever you notice your shoulders creeping into your ears, close your eyes and try this. Even seated in a chair, it will slow your breathing, calm your nervous system and increase oxygen f low throughout your body. Simply closing your eyes and allowing breath to fill you will shift you toward wellness. If you have questions about this exercise or how best to improve your own breathing, let me know. That’s what I am here for.

and says they “advocate for protections for kids since marijuana was legalized, commercialized and is readily available.”

“Smart worked for 2 years with state policy makers to exclude individuals under the age of 21 to be eligible for delivery of high potent marijuana.” said Henny Lasley, Smart Colorado’s Co-Founder and Executive Director.

“While we were successful in this effort, we implore local cities and counties that decide to opt in to marijuana delivery to ensure strict regulations to prevent under age diversion and strict penalties including potential loss of license.”

Lantern said they fully support regulations that ensure marijuana products are sold to adults only and doesn’t believe delivery creates more risk for minors accessing marijuana products.

“Legal requirements should be made around delivery that are just as stringent for sales at licensed locations,” said Flug. She also believes businesses know it’s in their own self interest to comply with the law for all sales. “A dispensary knows their license is on the line and lack of compliance can lead to the loss of a license. So simply put, dispensaries have an immense amount to lose if they deliver to a minor.”

Erika Taylor is a community wellness instigator at Taylored Fitness. Visit facebook.com/erika.taylor.303 or email erika@tayloredfitness.com

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303-455-5521

1401 W. 47th Ave Denver, CO 80211

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303.455.5535 NostalgicHomes.com The Victorian “Must Have” has debuted!

Grand Victorian, circa 1895 on nearly 10,000 square feet of ground

ACTIVE

5127 Lowell Boulevard 5 Bed 3 Bath $1,050,000

3,300 SF

The well-being of our clients is our #1 priority SOLD

SOLD

2123 Clay Street

1915 Meade Street

3 Bed

5 Bed

3 Bath 2,389 SF

Jenny Apel

2,136 SF

Alesia Kieffer

Betty Luce 303.478.8618

303.570.9690

3 Bath

$850,000

$695,000

970.376.8401

ACTIVE

SOLD

277 Broadway #310

1635 Xavier Street

3452 Osage Street

3151 W 36th Avenue

1 Bed

3 Bed

3 Bed

4 Bed

1 Bath 788 SF

2 Bath

2,869 SF

4 Bath 2,966 SF

$1,050,000

Jodi Rogers 720.933.6676

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608.438.7776

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Corey Wadley

303.913.3743

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SOLD

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1609 Xavier Street

1220 Mcmurdo Circle

15 Dudley Street

2224 West 30th Ave

5 Bed

4 Bed

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3 Bed

1 Bath 4,042 SF

$1,800,000

3 Bath 2,867 SF

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4 Bath 1,887 SF

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Luis Serrano

303.868.5746

720.688.5110

303.455.2466

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1,643 SF

#COLORADOSTRONG

Santa Fe Living In The Highlands! Outstanding Spanish Revival Architecture Awaits You Behind Rustic DoubleDoored Gates.

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Bart Rhein 720.837.5959

2,128 SF

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2025 Newland St 4 Bed

2 Bath

$500,000

SOLD

132 Washington Ave

Visit us at www.NostalgicHomes.com

SOLD

$750,000

$333,000

In lieu of holding open houses, at this time we are opting to provide Virtual Open House experiences, such as slideshows, live feeds or walkthrough videos.

3300 Wolff Street 3 Bed 2 Bath $1,295,000

2,384 SF

Alicia Cavallaro

Jenny Apel

303.887.8228

303.570.9690 4

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COMING SOON

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6081 E 67th Place

2683 Java Court

8653 W. Colorado Pl.

2611 E 31st Avenue

3 Bed

2 Bed

4 Bed

2 Bed

1 Bath 2,401 SF

Leigh Gauger

720.934.9711

ACTIVE

3338 Meade Street 3 Bed 3 Bath $775,000

2 Bath

1,644 SF

Contact Agent

$400,000

1,665 SF

Jenny Apel 303.570.9690

3.5 Bath

2,268 SF

$450,000

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$330,000

Ann Panagos

Arturo Bugarin

Lidia Suarez

970.930.5040

720.364.8214

303.717.5499

First Class Modern Farmhouse in Highlands combines timeless heirloom style with present day stylings with character and livability.

LIVE FORWARD. GO WEST.

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UNDER CONTRACT

2241 W 34th Ave

15342 W 66th Ave #C

4 Bed

2 Bed

2 Bath 2,840 SF

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Elizabeth Clayton

303.506.3448

2.5 Bath

1,492 SF

$375,000

Porsha Ridl 303.720.1772

MODEL HOME 5645 West 10th Ave. Lakewood, CO

303.476.2448

westlinevillage.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.