The Denver North Star September 15, 2023 Online Edition

The O in Berkeley Gets Blade and Marquee Restoration

Bike Buses, Walking School Buses Get Kids to School Safely

By Allen Cowgill

As kids start back to school, it’s interesting to think that in 1969 about 48% of kids walked or biked to school, according to the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS). Today, that number is closer to 13%.

Approximately 25% of Denver rushhour traffic today consists of parents driving kids to school. With childhood obesity and ADHD on the rise, one small thing parents can consider is the tremendous benefit of physical activity before school. Physical activity before school has also been shown to improve academic performance for kids.

What has contributed to the decline of kids using active transportation to get to school? SRTS cited that distance to school, danger from traffic, weather and crime were top factors bringing about the change.

POLITICS

Tim Hernández selected for House District 4 seat PAGE 5

ELECTED OFFICIALS

PHOTOS BY GLEN WESELOH

By Kathryn White

An extensive restoration to the front of The Oriental Theater (called The O these days) reached a milestone last month. The tall vertical vintage sign above the theater’s marquee, the “blade,” was stripped down, restored, repainted and outfitted with new neon lettering.

Scott Happel, general manager and partner at The O, said of the project by Morry’s Neon Signs, “We’ve had two other companies in the 10 or 11 years I’ve been around that repainted the blade. Neither time did that repainting last successfully for any amount of time. What Morry’s has done with the blade just already immediately looks so good and correct. I have much more confidence that it will stand the test of time in a way that the last couple of attempts have not.”

Early Sunnyside Leaders

William and Ellen Smedley and Mike Pomponio PAGE 7

“You can kind of see the history of the country in the sign,” said Morry’s general manager, Todd Matuszewicz. “It’s really cool, since it’s so old. In 1927 you had to be a licensed franchise of Claude Neon (Georges Claude), a Frenchman who claims to have invented neon, which is a whole other story.”

Morry’s research leading up to the restoration uncovered pictures of the theater building over the course of nearly 100 years of updates. When The O’s blade was created in 1927, it featured three onion domes, often associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, at the top of the blade. It also incorporated a rippled tin that was popular in the 1920s and ’30s and white porcelain bushings where the neon met with electrodes on the back side of the sign face.

A marquee was added beneath the blade in 1936. A dragon replaced the onion domes. During this phase, a rare type of brown porcelain bushing was used to replace some of the original white ones. What makes them rare, according to Matuszewicz, is that these bushings were manufactured for a limited time by Coors during Prohibition. The company needed to rely on products other than beer to stay afloat.

Matuszewicz is the right man for a tour of Morry’s. He recently began a master's degree in historic preservation at CU Denver in the College of Architecture and Planning. He began the tour with a lesson in the origins of the periodic table of elements dating back to the 1869 framework created by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. Chemists around the world worked to isolate each element that would ultimately find its place in a table scientists have added elements to as recently as 2016. Neon was isolated in 1896.

“Morry Weseloh started bending glass in Denver back in 1946,” Matuszewicz said. “He was part of a wave of people who came back from the war and were trained on the GI Bill.”

“Neon doesn’t travel well, it doesn’t ship well, and so that’s why they trained so many people,” Matuszewicz said. “There would be a neon tube bender that would have a region. All these little rural areas would have a shop that would service their hundred-mile radius.

Morry’s Neon was founded in 1985 by Gary Weseloh, Morry’s son. The company’s namesake, who had headed up the local tube benders’ union at times, wasn’t ready to let go of the work.

To mitigate safety concerns and get kids back into being physically active on the way to school, some parents have shifted to using a safetyin-numbers approach. Two options are the walking school bus and the bike bus.

To mitigate safety concerns and get kids back into being physically active on the way to school, some parents have shifted to using a safety-in-numbers approach. Two options are the walking school bus and the bike bus.

The walking school bus is a pretty simple concept that has been around for a while. A collection of families who live near each other and are within walking distance to the school form a group. Each morning, a parent from the group will take a turn being the leader of the walking school bus.

That parent will stop at each house, the walking bus stop, along the way to pick up kids. The group then walks together to school. If the kids are older, parents can consider having them meet at a central meeting point and walk to school without an adult.

The bike bus, or “bicibus,” started in Barcelona, Spain, in March 2021. Large convoys of biking children and parents take over the entire street on their route to school. The concept became popularized in the U.S. in Portland when gym teacher and coach Sam Balto started one at Alameda Elementary. Balto used a neighborhood greenway street designed for safe walking and biking to the school.

A group of kids meet up and bike to school together with a few adults helping to lead the group. Some bike buses are massive with 100 or more kids biking. They can be small, with a half-dozen kids

Before and after images of sign restoration at The Oriental Theater, August 2023.

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DAVID SABADOS

rom 1934-2017, North Denver was served by a family run publication called The North Denver Tribune. When it closed, we all felt the loss of not having a paper that helped foster community. In 2019, a few of us decided to create The Denver North Star to fill that void. For the last four years, we’ve worked to bring our community articles on development and growth, hyper-local politics, arts, culture and more: award winning stories about our neighbors and neighborhoods. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it.

Now we’re at a bit of a crossroads, and we need your help. You likely noticed this issue and other recent ones have been a bit smaller, lighter on content and with fewer ads. These things are related. As businesses face rising costs, one of the first things they cut (but one of the last ones they should) is marketing. Our costs, like everyone’s, have also jumped up. Unlike most small businesses, our revenue largely comes from other small businesses, so we cannot (ethically or practically) raise our rates at a time other small businesses are struggling. I have a different day job and volunteer with the papers in the evenings, weekends and as time allows. We have a small core paid team, but our bigger costs like printing and mailing have seen increases. We’re needing

additional revenue and have set a deadline of the end of the year to determine the future of the paper.

If you’re a local business, government agency, organization or someone else with advertising needs, please consider the paper as part of your advertising plan. Visibility in these pages is a fraction the cost of direct mail, more credible than social media and dollars spent locally recirculate in the community.

If you use Venmo, scan this QR code to make a contribution

Increasingly, newspapers are looking to philanthropic giving to supplement other revenue. We’re doing the same. Please consider contributing to your community paper. We’ll have our end of year fundraising drive with a grant match in December, but please consider an extra contribution now. Checks can be mailed to The Denver North Star, PO Box 11584, Denver CO 80211. You can donate online at denvernorthstar.com/support-the-denver-north-star-and-local-journalism (sorry for the bulky interface — we

///

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ///

haven’t spent money on upgrading it).

We’re also forming a fundraising committee for the paper to explore other revenue streams. If you’d like to help, or have other ideas for us, please reach out to me at David@DenverNorthStar.com.

We hope to continue bringing you timely, unbiased news about NW Denver and contributing to creating a sense of community.

If that’s important to you as well, we’d appreciate your help.

I’d also like to take a moment to thank Eric Heinz for his service as editor of this paper. Over the last year and a half, he took the reins of the editorial side of the paper (not an easy task to take over for the owner who was doing the job I know), creating and overseeing articles big and small. An East HS grad, he even came to love covering North HS sports. We wish him the best as he’s moving on with his career.

If you’ve read this paper before (and if you’ve made it this far you probably have), our new editor is no stranger. Kathryn White, who has written her beloved Gray Zone column, award-winning pieces on alleged discrimination in city zoning, and more, is taking over the reins starting with the October issue. I know she’s looking forward to talking with you all more directly.

Thank you for caring about our community and our community paper. Again, please reach out if you’d like to be involved in its future.

David Sabados is the publisher of The Denver North Star and its sister publication, the G.E.S. Gazette.

Thank You, The Denver North Star Readers

ello to our wonderful readers of The Denver North Star I have enjoyed meeting many of you over the last year and a half and working with you to develop stories for the neighborhoods we cover.

Hyears in the professional world of journalism to move to a different industry, and I wish all of you the best of luck going forward.

ERIC HEINZ

I am writing to you today to tell you that this edition will be my last month with The North Star and its companion paper, The G.E.S. Gazette. I have decided that after 13

Learning about the many moving parts of North Denver has been an exciting and edifying experience, and I hope to continue to visit the various businesses and features in the future.

I know that you will continue to meet the challenges that are put forth in front of you and reap the benefits of your hard work that is evident throughout the areas that make these communities great.

As I leave, Kathryn White will be taking

over as editor of The North Star and Gazette newspapers. She has extensive knowledge of North Denver and will be a great asset to the publications.

I have shared her contact information for many of the organizations and professionals we have worked with since I took over as editor, and I hope to bridge those relationships in any way I can.

Once again, it’s been a pleasure, and I wish all of you the best of luck.

Sincerely,

Eric Heinz

Auditor: Every Dollar Matters to Denver’s Workers

By Timothy M. O’Brien, Denver Auditor

Every dollar matters to

the people who work hard every day to support themselves, their families and their communities.

The people who produce our food, care for our loved ones when they are sick, teach our children, build and repair our city, and more. As Denver’s elected leaders consider how they will allocate the public’s dollars, I trust they will continue to support our important work to get every dollar earned into the pockets of workers.

Research shows when the minimum wage goes up, workers’ health dramatically improves. It also helps the business community by increasing worker productivity, decreasing turnover and ensuring fair competition.

Wage theft is one of the most frequent and costly crimes. The Colorado Fiscal Institute reports hundreds of thousands of workers have their wages stolen every year — including tens of thousands of Denverites. Women, low-wage workers, people of color and foreign-born workers are more likely to have their rights violated.

Many people who have their rights violated cannot afford a lawyer, don’t know how to bring a lawsuit themselves and fear retaliation. They need every dollar and cent they earned. That’s why my team and I work so hard to in-

vestigate and fight wage theft. In the last 10 months, we’ve collected more than $1,614,236 for 3,062 workers.

But one of the most frequent kinds of wage theft is when Denver workers are paid less than the city minimum wage — currently $17.29 per hour. I see other types of wage theft all too commonly as well: too many workers who aren’t paid overtime, don’t get paid sick leave or rest breaks, or don’t get paid for all the time they work.

Some are never paid at all. Wage theft is incredibly harmful to the workers of Denver.

It costs individuals, families and our entire community a great deal. When people aren’t paid the money they earn, they are put in dan-

ger. When I have the necessary resources to recover money owed to workers, we can help keep workers on the right side of hunger, debt and eviction.

When workers are treated fairly and their rights are enforced, we all benefit. And wage theft doesn’t just hurt workers. It hurts businesses too.

All over Denver, employers want to follow the law, pay people right and provide good jobs. When their competitors cut costs by violating the law, it’s impossible to compete fairly. By collaborating to raise awareness and build trust in the community, we are helping to protect some of the most vulnerable people in Denver.

I am grateful to all the workers of Denver for their service to our communities, and for their trust in me to protect them from wage theft. I trust the mayor and City Council will also do their part year-round to support this growing area of need.

Elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 and 2023, Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA, strives to bring greater clarity, transparency and accountability to Denver’s city government for its residents. Anyone who believes they are a victim of wage theft can file a complaint with his office at DenverWages.org.

FWe hope to continue bringing you timely, unbiased news about NW Denver and contributing to creating a sense of community. If that’s important to you as well, we’d appreciate your help.

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Denver Mayor Outlines Locations of Temporary Housing Sites

By Eric Heinz

Mayor Michael Johnston recently announced the preliminary locations of 11 temporary homeless housing sites, which could include tiny homes or pallet homes.

Tiny homes are movable units, but pallet homes are lighter and can be put together quicker to provide shelter for the unhoused population. Johnston said he hopes to have the temporary housing locations up and running by the end of the year as part of his goal to get 1,000 people off the streets.

“We’ll continue the community engagement process to help land these sites and these units to prepare to get people moved off of the streets and into housing.

“We have access to the construction pipeline of homes that we’ll need,” Johnston said. “We’ll continue the community engagement process to help land these sites and these units to prepare to get people moved off of the streets and into housing.”

According to the mayor’s office, a pallet home or tiny home location could be coming to 1498 Irving St., which is located just on the other side of the District 1 border.

“We do have other sites that we are in current negotiations with that are owned by private landowners,” Johnston said. “The private-land-owning community has been very cooperative and collaborative. Some of them have some details we have to work out with their land before they go public.”

District 1, represented by Councilmember Amanda P. Sandoval, did not have a suggested location from the recent briefing by Johnston, but the mayor said each council district will eventually have a potential location for tiny or pallet homes.

Johnston said the map he unveiled recently will not be a final map of the locations. He said the sites vary between existing structures such as hotels and motels the city has purchased, while the others are vacant land.

Johnston added his office recently met with apartment owners from across the city who represent about 45,000 units.

“We’re working directly to bring on leased units, (and) we're gonna move people directly into those apartment units,” the mayor said. “We're still working on hotel conversions that add another source of units, but these (locations) are the ones that we have.”

According to the mayor’s office, a request for proposals is in the works to find providers of wraparound services and site management, including security for the pallet home sites. Another request will seek to find manufacturers of tiny homes.

When asked whether he thought the locations or future locations for temporary home-

less housing were being put in neighborhoods that are economically disadvantaged, Johnston said he didn’t think that was true.

“What we’ll see is they actually do represent geographic diversity across the city. They do represent socioeconomic diversity,” he said.

The Denver City Council recently approved a contract of $7 million to purchase 200 pallet homes as part of the initiative to get 1,000 people off the streets. The City Council also extended the homelessness State of Emergency declaration recently, which is now in effect through Sept. 18.

resources to we can help hunger, debt and their benefit. And workers. It hurts to follow good jobs. by violating fairly. By colbuild trust in protect some Denver. of Denver communities, and for from wage Council will support this

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Pallet homes, which could be placed in various locations around the city, are slated to come to Denver by the end of the year.

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CITY OF DENVER

” –

Mayor Michael Johnston

Longstanding favorite, Cafe Brazil, is celebrating over 30 years in Northwest Denver’s dining scene.

BRDG Project Fuses Art and Community

By Jill Carstens

Fueled by the pioneering inspiration of North Denver’s original co-op galleries that once lined Navajo Street off 38th Avenue, Brett Matarazzo and fellow artists and BRDG Project co-founders Michael Dowling and Michael Vacchiano seek to fuse art and community at their new location at 3300 Tejon St.

The Aug. 11 grand opening was well-attended and brought nearby neighbors together with local artists Penny Bidwell, Jen Starling and Megan Morgan, to name a few. Artwork reflected a wide variety of mediums. Many artists in the inaugural exhibit, Preface, have been crucial in opening the space by donating time, labor, artwork and creative energy.

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“Before the gentrification of North Denver, we had an amazing hub of art and diverse culture,” said Matarazzo, a longtime North Denver resident who has witnessed many changes.

“We want to bring as much of that back to the neighborhood as possible through the use of this space,” Matarazzo said, “honoring, especially, the Latinx communities who were established here long before it became a popular area.”

The space is open and lofty, and just oozing with possibilities. The main gallery, while welcoming, evokes the feel of a highend gallery. Large garage doors on two sides let in sunshine and beckon passers-by to stop in, as Matarazzo hoped.

“We want the local residents to feel a sense of ownership of this space as part of their community,” he said. A goal for programming is that local creatives will pitch ideas, events and workshops that can be facilitated in one of BRDG Project’s available spaces.

In addition to the front gallery, there is a smaller exhibit area that leads to a performance space with a stage where live music

and other events can be held. Offices that once surrounded those spaces are now available to rent as artist studios.

BRDG obtained its 501(c)(3) designation in September 2021. The Artist Proof Collective, a full-service print shop and Denver’s only unionized shop, which is run by Evan Akerfeld, is the gallery sponsor this year.

BRDG Project originally began as a pop-up arts organization in a vacant office building off of Platte Street offering art events during COVID-19. Their current 8,000-square-foot space provides myriad opportunities for art-related endeavors that are aimed at inclusiveness on many levels.

Matarazzo, Dowling and Vacchiano have been partnering with nearby businesses and organizations to collaborate on events and an ambitious list of things they want to do. They inaugurated a Third Saturday Art Market, in which a revolving collection of artisans provide accessible works such as smaller prints, fashion and unique objects in a relaxed setting.

Creative workshops, youth programming, creating volunteer teams and even a recording sound room are among the plans. The BRDG Project mission, according to its website, is to “bridge artist, gallery, youth and underserved communities together in an accessible and engaging space for contemporary expression and learning.”

Its galleries will be full this month with shows that opened Sept. 8 and run through mid to late October. The first of those shows, Impart, which is located in the Main West Gallery, will honor a group of university and college art educators who helped inspire and shape the Colorado arts community. Julie Havel’s mixed media pieces will be on exhibit in a solo show in the Central Gallery, and John Henley’s and Peggy Feliot’s sculptures will be on display in the East Stage Gallery until Oct. 28.

Learn more at www.brdgproject.com. To inquire about renting artist studio space or space for workshops or events contact Matarazzo at brettmatarazzo@brdgproject.com.

/// EDUCATION /// LETTERS FROM MISS JILL

Artificial Intelligence and Education

ChatGPT entered my house on the wings of a confusing and quite lengthy quadratic equation courtesy of my college-age son. I could hear his frustration through his bedroom door in the form of expletives.

Later he emerged and admitted that, in desperation, he tried putting the equation into ChatGPT. He was able to discover a piece of the equation that he had missed. He has since used artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool when he is unable to get support from professors or other resources. Through his random use of the app, he also found that ChatGPT does not always get the answer correct and that part of consulting this resource is to also check its work, not assuming that it is always right.

It has become clear to me this year that AI is here. It’s not if we are to engage in this tool, but rather how. Instead of being afraid of it, or banning it altogether, we must learn about what this resource can and cannot do.

Chris Dede, a senior research fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, noted that we need to change what we're educating people for. If you educate people solely for what AI does well, you're preparing them to lose to AI. In a February 2023 Harvard Graduate School of Education article, he defined the best way to use this resource as artificial augmentation, meaning to augment or extend our research to include information from AI, as opposed to

expecting AI to do and know everything.

Forms of AI have been around for years. Many functions on the internet, like Google’s search engine or the way that Amazon magically assumes what you want to buy next, are examples. Dede asserted that AI is best at predicting. This is done through data analysis and pattern identification.

“Yeah, don't be scared,” Dede added. “AI is not smart. It really isn't. People would be appalled if they knew how little AI understands what it's telling you, especially given how much people seem to be relying on it. But it is capable of taking over parts of what you do that are routine and predictable and, in turn, freeing up the creative and the innovative and the human parts that are really the rewarding parts of both work and life.”

As a former teacher and mom, that is how I want to view AI, solely as a resource, a tool, certainly not as something that would write an entire paper or give advice on how to solve relationship problems! When I hear about it being used in those ways I laugh a little, but then I cock my head in confusion as well. Expecting an artificial intelligence to create a project or solve a social emotional problem is concerning. As Dede suggests, let the AI do some of the grunt work, but let’s all continue to be the creativity and ingenuity that makes the world function.

When it comes to your child engaging with this resource it is important to understand

See AI, Page 11

Grand opening of the BRDG Project space at 3300 Tejon St.

PHOTO BY JILL CARSTENS

JILL CARSTENS

programming, a recordplans. The to its webyouth and together in an contempomonth with run through those shows, Main West university and inspire and community. Julie on exhibGallery, and sculptures Stage Gallery www.brdgproject.com. To inspace or space

Matarazzo at

Tim Hernández Selected as State House District 4 Rep.

By Eric Heinz

Teacher Tim Hernández was recently selected by the voting members of the Denver Democrats of House District 4 (HD4).

Colorado legislative vacancies are filled by the party of the vacating member. A vacancy in HD4 was created when Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez was elected into an at-large seat on Denver City Council.

Attending the candidate forum at Regis University were representative hopefuls Cecilia Espinoza, who was in HD4 leadership for several years and is a retired employee of the Department of Justice, and former Weld County state representative Rochelle Galindo.

All candidates gave their reasons as to why they should be selected, but it was Hernández who brought the loudest voice and emphatic passion to the forum, as he promised to tackle gun control legislation and to provide assistance to school districts in need.

“This moment belongs to those who struggle, who choose to struggle,” Hernández said. “What I’m going to ask you to do is if at any point in your life you feel like you've struggled, you have been oppressed, whether you're Black, Brown, Indigenous, if you're a woman, if you’re LGBTQ+, if you’re poor I want you to raise your hand.”

“This moment belongs to all of us, and everybody raising your hands, it’s gonna take all of us to uproot oppression,” he continued. “Homies, that’s exactly how oppression works. It’s not just one person. It’s not just one identity. It impacts everybody.”

Hernández was selected by 70 voting members, gaining 39 votes to Espinoza’s 27 and Galindo’s two. Following the vote totals, Hernández led a chant with his supporters as well as some of his students.

“I know what gun violence is like because I sit with friends who are afraid to die,” Hernández said during his closing statements. “Yeah, we need to take it on, head-on. We need to take our housing crisis head-on for families and

parents. We need to take on the issue of what is showing up in our schools, not just because of funding, but because, in case you don’t know, we’re in the middle of a teacher shortage where teachers aren’t just leaving their schools, they are leaving the profession entirely.”

“We need to make sure that what we are building is conducive to the next generation to lean on our democratic values from a place of lived experience,” he added. Hernández worked at North High School until his contract was not renewed, sparking a walkout by students in 2022. He is currently planning to work with Urban Peak. Hernández said his background in education as well as his work with Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office in Washington, D.C., gave him the necessary tools to be a qualified replacement.

“I believe that organized people will always end up on the right side of history,” Hernández told The Denver North Star after the event. “We worked (hard) to make sure we were organized and we made sure that this place and this neighborhood will be represented by somebody who knows our place, who can speak to our issues from a place of lived experience and can hopefully work to end oppressive policies as it shows up for our community.”

At press time Hernández was to be sworn in on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Tim Hernández, center, celebrates at Regis University after being selected by voting members of the Denver Democrats of House District 4 as the next state representative to replace Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez.

PHOTO BY ERIC HEINZ

Tim Hernández, left, gives a hug to Anna Hernandez, a House District 4 vacancy committee member and precinct organizer who nominated him, before he was selected as the next state representative for the district.

PHOTO BY ERIC HEINZ

Regis Sees Enrollment Increases in Various Student Categories

By Eric Heinz

Regis University recently reported its incoming freshman class will include significant increases to its first-generation, Latino/a/x, Catholic, Colorado-based and Pell Grant-eligible students.

Senthil Kumar, vice president for strategic enrollment management, was hired last fall to oversee the enrollment process, along with J.T. Smith, Regis’ dean of admissions and assistant vice president of enrollment management.

“Regis University is set to welcome a record-breaking traditional undergraduate first year and transfer new student class this fall,” Kumar said. “It is projected to be among the highest in the university’s history, with more than 600 students registered as of a week before classes are set to begin, an increase of 28% over the previous year. The university will also welcome over 900 new post-traditional, graduate and doctoral students, an increase of 72% over last year.”

Some of the numbers the university provided for this year’s 606 incoming students compared to last year’s initial enrollment included:

• 54% (327/606) are first-generation students; an increase of 60% (204 students)

• 51% (309/606) are Pell Grant-eligible students; an increase of 72% (180 students)

• 43% (261/606) are Latino/a/x students; an increase of 38% (189 students)

• 14% (87/606) are from Catholic high schools; an increase of 300% (29 students)

• 75% (455/606) are from Colorado; an increase of 43% (318 students)

The average tuition for Regis University is $41,099, an increase of nearly 3% from 2022. The total enrollment this fall is 4,549 students among undergraduate and graduate programs. Additionally, Smith said there are more than 250 students on the waiting list for the Regis pre-nursing program.

The incoming high school GPA for students is 3.67, up from last year’s 3.63.

“One of the things that we did this year is really focused on student engagement and spent a lot of time getting to know the students and their stories, and really having proactive outreach to address any issues that may come up so we can make their transition to college as smooth as possible,” Smith said.

Despite these new efforts, Regis had one of its lowest number of applications this year in recent history, Kumar said. Because Regis focused on looking for students in Jesuit high school systems and devoted more time to the recruitment process, he said the university is trying to bring in students who they think can

be most successful in its programs.

“We wanted to focus on those who are specifically interested, the Catholic high schools we have partnered with all these years, first-generation students,” Smith said. “Bringing these students on campus … got them comfortable with Regis and got them comfortable with the campus, with the faculty, the staff, and it made that transition easier. The same thing for the parents. They got to know us, they got to know Regis, and they felt comfortable with leaving their children in our care.”

Kumar said the university used a “call center strategy,” which increased the engagement with students who had been admitted.

“Every student that was admitted was literally called before the admission (acceptance) letter went out,” Kumar said. “We actually called the students to congratulate them and tell them they were admitted, and we told them about

their financial plan. Only after that, the admission letters went out. So it was a very personalized service. You cannot do that personalized service with 10,000 applications, so it was done for a reason to get the best applicants.”

The increase in engagement with students is what Kumar called a “concierge service,” which really homed in on finding what prospective students needed from the university.

“That's what I think I was able to bring to the team and this team carry the service to a whole other level,” Kumar said. “For example, we rewarded students for coming to multiple open houses, like a micro scholarship.”

Kumar said the idea was to figure out how to continue Catholic students’ education through Regis University after they finished their first 12 years through primary school.

“We have a bigger plan, actually, to really (reach out) to about close to 1,500 Catholic high schools out there,” he said.

/// ARTS AND CULTURE ///

Married Regis Poets Launch Books

Goldspot Brewing Hosts Reading Sept. 23

By Kathryn White

Regis University professors Alyse Knorr and Kate Partridge share a life that encompasses their work teaching English on the same campus, raising two young children at home a few blocks away, and enjoying parks and local businesses within walking distance in the Regis neighborhood. The two now also have their latest books of poetry coming out in the same month.

Knorr’s “Ardor,” released Sept. 1 by Gasher Press, is described by the publisher as, “At the intersections of eco-poetics and queer family-building, ‘Ardor’ moves across the political and natural landscapes of Alaska, Colorado, and the deep American South. The book’s poems meditate on love and motherhood in the context of environmental crisis, foregrounding the domestic in a quest to continually re-imagine a hopeful future.”

Knorr’s writing has appeared in The New Republic, Poetry Magazine, The Southern Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, Denver Quarterly and The Georgia Review.

Partridge's “THINE,” published by Tupelo Press, “delves into motherhood, climate change, and the couple’s transplantation to Colorado,” according to the publisher. Her poems have appeared in Field, Yale Review, Pleiades, Michigan Quarterly Review, Alaska Quarterly Review and Copper Nickel.

Partridge and Knorr also co-edit a small feminist literary press, Switchback Books,

which focuses on books of poetry by women and nonbinary authors.

“Kate and I are both from the South,” said Knorr. “I grew up in Georgia and Kate grew up in Virginia. We met in grad school in Virginia. When we left for Alaska it was my first time living outside of the South. That was a big adjustment. And then moving to Colorado, I feel like Denver is the perfect balance of the things we love about a big city, like having museums and cultural things and urban density, combined with the things we loved about Alaska, like the ability to go skiing, to see beautiful mountains and go on incredible hikes.”

Contrasts between the South, Alaska and the Denver neighborhood they’ve called home for the last seven years have given them plenty to write about and appreciate.

“One of the very first things I noticed about Denver,” Knorr said, “was how incredible the beer scene is. I had heard that, but I was not prepared. Living so close to Goldspot (Brewing) and just having that be a woman-owned space and a queer-owned space has been really huge. I live just a few blocks away from some of the best beer in the country.”

The couple will read from their new books at a launch event at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Goldspot Brewing Company, 4970 Lowell Blvd. Goldspot owner Kelissa Hieber is brewing a special beer for the occasion.

Regis University recently reported that it saw increases to various categories of students this year, including firstgeneration, Catholic, Latino/a/x, Colorado-based and Pell Grant-eligible students.

PHOTO BY ERIC HEINZ

Early Sunnyside Leaders William and Ellen Smedley and Mike Pomponio

DR. WILLIAM SMEDLEY

William

Smedley was born in 1836 in Philadelphia. In 1860, he joined a wagon train headed for Oregon, soon returning to Pennsylvania where he trained to be a dentist before he moved west one more time. In 1870, he developed his dental practice in gold rush-era Denver.

After marrying his wife, Ellen, in 1872, he built their first home at 1020 Ninth St. in the new residential district of Auraria. He and Ellen began raising their two daughters andthree sons on Ninth Street. In a few years the Smedley family needed more room so they acquired land and built a house in the new community of Sunnyside.

Smedley was a dental innovator who, in 1871, used nitrous oxide for a tooth extraction. This was the first use in Colorado and one of the earliest in the country. Two of Dr. Smedley’s sons later joined him in the family dental practice.

William Smedley believed in being involved in improving society. He was part of the North Denver Friends Church (Quakers), started in 1893, whose first building was at W. 41st Avenue and Shoshone Street. In the 1950s the church moved to a new building at 4595 Eliot St. The earlier Friends Church building now serves as Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Dr. Smedley served for 17 years on the North Denver No. 17 School Board. The district later became part of Denver Public Schools. In honor of Dr. Smedley’s long-standing support for schools, DPS named Smedley Elementary School after him.

ELLEN SMEDLEY

In addition to raising five children, Ellen Smedley was a founding member of the North Side Women’s Club. This group, started in 1895, was made up of middle- and upper-class women who had been influenced by progressive reforms and Social Gospel ideas about using their privilege to improve the lives of those less fortunate. On the Northside, that was mostly recent Italian immigrants. While this was a bit of a maternalistic leap, the club did create meaningful change. They held some of the first English language classes for immigrants. They had a gym for the boys and held classes that helped immigrant women better adapt to American society. They were also a place for children to go when out of school. Most of these kids had mothers who worked outside of the home. Ellen, being a Quaker, believed in being helpful to neighbors.

MIKE POMPONIO

Mike Pomponio was born in 1900, the son of a man who had come from the southern Italian city of Potenza. His father worked on the railroad and instilled in his son a passion for working-class issues and a sense that getting involved in politics was a path toward a better life for immigrant and working-class Denverites.

Mike Pomponio lived much of his life at 3958 Pecos St. and then later at 4990 Green

Court, both in Sunnyside. In the 1920s and early 1930s, the councilman for District X (now District 1) was Thomas Morrissey, a representative from another immigrant group, the Irish. Pomponio ran against Morrissey and won election in 1933. He held his city council post for 30 years.

Pomponio formed the DX (District X) Club, first located in the Potenza Lodge at W. 38th Avenue and Shoshone Street, and later at 1531 W. 48th Ave. The organization was a social club that was also home to the political machine that kept Pomponio in power for almost 30 years. It later supported Democratic officials from the Northside.

Sunnyside has been home to many people who were committed to making their neighborhood and their world a better place.

Dr. Rebecca A. Hunt has been a Denver resident since 1985. She worked in museums and then taught Colorado, Denver and immigration history at the University of Colorado Denver until she retired in 2020.

‘Defensible Spaces’ by Denver Author Alison Turner

ummer brings with it the threat of wildfires in the state of Colorado. One tiny spark can ignite a devastating burn that claims land, homes, wildlife. In “Defensible Spaces,” a short story collection by local author Alison Turner, fire (wild and otherwise) links stories, both tangibly and metaphorically, set in the fictional town of Clayton, Colorado.

Resident photographer Bonnie Hadford focuses her lens on joyously public and intensely personal moments for the town’s newspaper, the Clayton Clamour. Danny Mansion, the town’s only Native American, stands quietly in the background, trying to find his way after a tumultuous childhood spent between his undependable mother and a slew of foster homes, and a young adulthood living in Red Bird Forest. The child of the only Chinese family in town, Mae Ji is the target of discrimination and unfounded rumors, the most notorious being that she burned down the headframe of Red Bird Mine. Karly Krane lives in the trailer park with her grandmother and from a very young age is fond of lighters and risky choices.

Sbig business, the alcohol flows freely and everyone is trying to survive as best they can. The stories are told out of chronological order, layering past and present to give context to the lives of the characters, their loves, their fears and their struggles. Turner does a remarkable job getting to the heart of each with compassion and insight.

Join the Smiley Branch Library for an Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with food and conversation. Nicanor Diaz will show you how to make his tasty alfajores de maizena, a popular cookie in Argentina. Come practice your Spanish while you sample the real thing at this fun, inperson presentation from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. Registration is required at denverlibrary.org/events and space is limited.

The natural environment plays a pivotal role, with awareness always present that nature could wield its power over human progress. With stories like “Combustible Debris,” “Fuel Density” and “Home Ignition Zone,” the unpredictability and volatility of life and relationships sits alongside that of nature. In “Mitigation,” a newcomer to town recommends a prescribed burn that has residents fired up. “Evacuation” contemplates what is important to save in a fire and what secrets can be uncovered in those crucial moments.

This thoughtful, contemplative collection is absorbing in its writing and its humanity. Moving into the fall season, this is a great collection to curl up with on a chilly night. Preferably in front of a fire. Check this and other great reads out at the Denver Public Library branch near you.

Like puzzle pieces, the lives of residents fit together in sometimes unexpected ways and paint a portrait of a town where firewood is

Wendy Thomas is a librarian at the Smiley Branch Library. When not reading or recommending books, you can find her hiking with her dogs.

WENDY THOMAS

REBECCA A. HUNT

Smedley Public School, 1902-10. Louis Charles McClure, photographer; call number: MCC-387.

COURTESY OF DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Community Celebrates La Raza Park Day

Photos and event recap by Eric Heinz

The fifth annual La Raza Park Day was recently celebrated, as hundreds of people came to enjoy the festivities.

The lowriders and classic cars were out in full force to celebrate the day that honors Latino/a/x culture as well as the history of North Denver. Music blared from the ki-

osko, and cultural dancers performed for the crowds.

This was the first year La Raza Park Day was celebrated with the park under a historic district designation.

The La Raza Park district is restricted to just the 2.2-acre park, located at 1501 W.

38th Ave. La Raza Park has served as a focal point for the North Denver community, even as the demographics of the surrounding area changed.

La Raza Park was renamed in 2020 after the city scrapped the name Columbus Park, which it had been named since the 1930s.

Moving In: A Love Letter

tion alive.

to try all the activities that were offered. It was hectic and exhausting for a while, but he enjoyed himself. By his second month living there he had made friends and had settled into a more reasonable routine.

WHITE

KATHRYN

Ihad a very special part-time job until recently. I worked two days a week at a retirement complex in the neighborhood. I made smoothies and sandwiches and served up coffee in the community’s in-house bistro. From my place behind the counter, I watched the comings and goings: residents on their way to a meal; going to rehab or coming home from the hospital; friends visiting; family bringing groceries.

In my last few weeks on the job — knowing I would miss it — I began to pay greater attention to what for me has been the most poignant of comings: people moving into a community setting for the first time in their lives, in their 80s or 90s. Perhaps this was on my mind because I’ve noticed the two nonagenarians on the block where I live are receiving more support for continuing to live at home. Or maybe because a friend recently connected me with a woman who’s realized she and her partner are increasingly at-risk living in their home of over 30 years. In addition to the stress of the physical move and caring for a spouse with dementia, this woman shoulders the additional weight of wondering how a same-sex couple will be treated in a setting where they may be “the only” or “the first.”

What have I learned from the residents where I worked about how to adjust to community life?

One person decided to attend everything,

Another took the opposite approach. She kept her routines with friends and family outside the building the same as always. She continued to get a ride to church from a friend or taxi every Sunday. Lunch dates with her grandchildren continued. She didn’t try an activity in her new home until nearly six months after moving in. But it was interesting to her and exactly what she needed.

In a move I imagine for myself someday, one newcomer made the place his own by bringing his favorite hot sauces and adult coffee enhancements (let’s say) to the dining room in the basket attached to his walker. He shared with people he met. Interesting conversations unfolded.

A fourth introduced himself to the activities staff and told them about his interest in music. Within months he was leading a choir in the community and playing piano at sing-alongs for residents in the assisted-living wing.

Residents there taught me as much about how to be open and curious and welcoming to newcomers as they did about how to adjust to community life.

A resident who passed away several months ago used to hand-make and deliver birthday cards to everyone in the building, staff and residents alike. When she died, I wondered if someone would keep the tradi-

Several other residents roll out the welcome mat by hanging out in the lobby area and striking up conversations with newcomers and passers-by.

One person would buy smoothies at my bistro and deliver them to people who were feeling under the weather.

And time and time again I watched as my customers invited someone to join them at their table. They shared cinnamon rolls and stories, sometimes breaking out into song. They brightened each other’s days.

If a move into a community setting is in your future, I hope you will cut yourself as much slack as you need. Settle in at your pace. Share your passions and gifts over time. Your life is full and complex and has taken you through many interesting adventures to arrive at this point. As the popular phrase goes, “You be you.”

Moving into a community setting is a big change. It’s exciting for some, a relief for others. But for nearly everyone I’ve encountered, there’s at least a little apprehension. I hope you receive the warmest of welcomes.

Kathryn has lived in North Denver since around the time Mount Carmel High School was razed and its lot at 3600 Zuni became Ana Marie Sandoval Elementary. She’s raised two children in the neighborhood, worked at several nonprofits and volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter.

GRAY ZONE: STORIES CONNECTED TO NORTH

RTD Aims to Make Ridership

More Accessible

By Michael Guzman, RTD District C Representative

Did you ride RTD for free during the last two months? I sure hope that you did! RTD’s Zero Fare for Better Air is a huge opportunity for RTD to make lives better through connection. The last few months have been busy at the Board Office.

I flew to DC with other Colorado elected officials in late June and had the opportunity to meet with our State Delegation to discuss our pressing transportation and infrastructure needs.

The Board of Directors approved Respect the Ride, our code of conduct policy to create a more safe and welcoming transit environment. Countless hours and lots of sleepless nights went into listening sessions all over the region, discussion and debate, amendments that are still being worked on through committee to craft and authorize a fair and just code that helps all of us enjoy RTD.

I serve on the Finance and Planning Committee we put forth several actions that have resulted in historic action by the Board and RTD. The Systemwide Fare and Equity Analysis, first of its kind in the history of RTD, allowed the board to simplify our fare structure and more importantly to reduce all fares for RTD services. Beginning in 2024, the fare for your ride will be reduced no matter how you use RTD services. RTD will rollout greater discounts for our most vulnerable neighbors, many who rely on public transportation, and hopefully for those of you that began a new habit of using public transportation during July and August. The committee working with the CFO Doug McLeod have also earned RTD the AAA credit worthiness ranking from S&P Global Ratings. Meaning RTD has an extremely strong capacity to meet all financial commitments.

I am so excited to announce the Board authorized and allotted funds for the Zero Fare for Youth Pilot Program for the entirety of the 2023-24 academic year. CEO/GM Debra A. Johnson worked at breakneck speed to receive permission from the Federal Transit Authority for a full year pilot. I am so grateful for her strong efforts to help us realize this program. The Zero Fare for Youth is available every

Neon

Continued from Page 1

Morry’s other son, Glen, and Glen’s wife, Tina, now run the operation.

The crew of six who work for Morry’s today fabricate and repair signs; design, repair and construct neon; and process the combination of gases, glass colors and other materials that go into creating the vibrant colors neon is now capable of.

Other signs by Morry’s can be seen in North Denver at Billy’s Bar (44th and Lowell), Lucy’s Burger Bar on Tennyson and Little Man Ice Cream Factory on West Colfax.

Happel and the crew at Morry’s are not quite done at The O.

“They’ll be back to start work on the base of it, what most people would refer to as the marquee part,” Happel said. “That will be completely redone also, so all the paint will be scraped off and redone. The whole bottom of it that is rusty and kind of peeling off will be totally replaced with new metal. Once they are done done, the whole thing will look as good as the blade

day of the week for all youth 19 years old and younger, across the RTD system. Not only can our young scholars ride for free to school, but also to museums, medical services, and even to the Airport. Sorry, mom and dad, you will still have to pay your fare, but the youth ride free. I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from Denver’s City Council and the Denver Public School Board.

With football season fast approaching I was disappointed to learn that the Bronco’s Ride will not return. That said RTD was able to move a record number of people from Coor’s Field and Empower Field at Mile High during the Rockies v. Yankees Games and the Taylor Swift Concert in mid-July approximately 120,000 fans each night. I am confident RTD will move Bronco Nation quickly and efficiently during football season. Light rail and buses will get you to the game and home again and you can avoid the traffic jam, help lower emissions and save gas and parking money. So, get on board.

On a more personal note, this hijito from the Westside, never imagined that I could be an elected official. Representing the 240,000 constituents in District C is a humbling honor. Your feedback, questions, criticisms and comments inform my work. You are at the table with me every time I enter the boardroom because I learned a long time ago “la gente unida jamás será vencida.” I will continue to speak in Spanish and English, not to grandstand, as has been alleged, rather so that everyone can participate in the public discourse as a matter of equity and access. My Chicano and Boricua cultures inform my language, values and work. It is part of me that cannot and will not be left behind and my fellow directors know, accept, and support. September is both the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month and Rail Safety Month: If the sirens are blaring and the lights are flashing, DO NOT CROSS THE TRACKS! Please wait until the alarms stop, look both ways and only then, proceed safely.

Michael Guzman was elected to the RTDBoard of Directors District C in November. His term ends at the end of 2026.

currently looks.”

Restorations to the blade and marquee will use the last of a Save our Stages grant The O received during COVID-19.

Of the building’s interior improvements, Happel said, “If you’re a person that has not been to an event at the theater in four or five years I think that you would find a lot of updates if you were to come tomorrow.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MORRY’S NEON SIGNS Morry Weseloh’s son Glen bends glass tubing in the shop at Morry’s Neon Signs.

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HERE FOR YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

Whether you are in the planning stage of your dream pursuit or you’re looking to safeguard all that you’ve accomplished, I will meet you wherever you are in your journey. Let ’s talk about your plans, and how I can help you protect them

Suave Fest Latino Craft Beer Festival Sept. 30

By The Denver North Star staff

Eighteen Latina- and Latino-owned breweries from across the country, and 10 local collaborating breweries, will offer over 40 beer varieties at Suave Fest 2023. The event takes place from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1401 Zuni St.

There will be live entertainment, Latin American and Caribbean food vendors, wines, spirits and nonalcoholic beverages, and over 50 artists and artisans.

This is the third Suave Fest, held every two years, produced by Raices Brewing Co. and Cultura, a nonprofit committed to celebrating Latino culture.

Tickets, further event information and a volunteer sign-up form can be found at www.suavefest.com.

North Denver Restaurants Awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand Designation

By The Denver North Star staff

Ash'Kara at 2005 W. 33rd Ave., Glo Noodle House at 4450 W. 38th Ave. No. 130 and The Ginger Pig at 4262 Lowell Blvd. were recently awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand designation, an honor Michelin bestows, according to its website, for “high-quality food at pocket-friendly prices.”

Eight of the nine Colorado eateries awarded the Bib Gourmand this summer are located in Denver, with three of Denver’s eight in North Denver.

Bike Buses

Continued from Page 1

and several parents biking with them. There can be routes that merge with each other, or separate groups that meet up at school. Kids can start at the beginning of the route or join the group along its way at designated “bike bus stops.”

The designation, named after Bibendum, the company’s Michelin Man mascot, began in 1955. In 1997, the Bib Gourmand designation was added to the Michelin Guide in the form of an icon of Bibendum licking his lips.

This year, Michelin Guide anonymous inspectors made their first trip to Colorado. As of press time, Michelin was to announce Colorado restaurants receiving its highest designation, the Michelin Star, on Sept. 12. This story will be updated online.

a great map of quiet neighborhood streets to consider, and the city of Denver recently updated their bike map to reflect recently constructed bikeways. Pick a route that minimizes crossing busy streets and has small traffic volume. Getting the support of the school administration or Parent Teacher Organization can be helpful in raising awareness for the bike bus and recruiting volunteers to help out.

Abbie Tanner, Agent

Abbie Davis Tanner Agency, Inc 3814 Lowell Blvd (303) 333-0205

atanner@amfam.com

Denver’s first bike bus started last May in the Sloans Lake neighborhood. Around 50 kids and parents biked to Brown International Academy on two separate occasions. Two separate groups rode to school from opposite ends of 25th Avenue. One started at Sloans Lake Park and the other started near the Snarf’s parking lot. Kids enjoyed the sense of independence of getting to school on their own. They liked biking with friends and the kid-friendly music played on speakers. Organizers are planning on doing the Brown Bike Bus one to two times per month this school year weather permitting.

For parents thinking about starting a bike bus, picking a route that is safe and convenient is paramount. Bike Streets Denver has

Parents can ask their school to sign up for Schoolpool, a free service from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). The tool allows parents to connect with others to create groups of kids to get to school together via biking, walking, public transit or carpooling. In North Denver, Centennial Elementary, Denver North High School and Rocky Mountain Prep Berkeley are already part of the Schoolpool program, according to the DRCOG website.

Allen Cowgill is the City Council District 1 appointee to the DOTI Advisory Board, where he serves as the board secretary, and a volunteer for the Brown International Academy Bike Bus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUAVE FEST

The Brown International Academy "bike bus" rides to school on Sept. 6, 2023.

PHOTO BY ALLEN COWGILL

found at Restaurants

Give Grief the Space it Needs in Life

he word “grief” brings to mind the way we feel in the face of the death of a loved one. In reality, grief is a more common state and might result from life events ranging from the catastrophic – divorce, a sick child, an injury, a global pandemic – to the routine and largely positive, like a haircut, a new job or birth of a child.

Yes, positive life events can inspire grief. Who hasn’t momentarily longed for the days we knew exactly where the remote control was because we were the only ones in the house to move it? According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Grief is the experience of coping with loss. Grief can accompany any event that disrupts or challenges our sense of normalcy or ourselves.”

Tthrough it doesn’t always come easily. I am very grateful to the Grief Counseling Team at National Jewish Hospital and cling to this list of strategies my therapist helped me develop for when I am feeling overwhelmed or ashamed of my grief.

1. BE JOYFUL

3. BE PATIENT

Continued from Page 4

Bibendum, mascot, began Gourmand desMichelin Guide Bibendum licking anonymous inColorado. As announce Colhighest desigSept. 12. This

What does grief feel like? It's different for everyone. It might manifest as anxiety or depression. A pit in our stomach, feeling detached from our friends and family, inability to concentrate, loss of interest in things we used to love. Feeling numb. Headache, gastrointestinal distress, high or low blood pressure, inability to sleep, racing heart, rage, inability to tolerate things that used to roll off our backs, feeling isolated, feeling useless and even thoughts of suicide. If you are feeling at a loss, or even just a twinge frustrated in navigating your own grief, I cannot stress strongly enough finding a trusted professional to talk to.

When feelings of grief strike it can be challenging to know what to do with them. Not only are the feelings themselves difficult, but we often beat ourselves up over feeling them. Or we are just plain exhausted by them. Ignoring grief will not make it go away. Wallowing in it forever won’t either. Learning to allow it, giving it space and still moving

In the midst of grief, it is natural and 100% valid to be focused on what you have lost. While I am not one who espouses the “gratitude at all costs” mantra, it can be helpful to practice turning your attention to the things you still have, or the parts of your life you enjoy. Set a timer for one minute and list anything you can think of that brings you even the smallest amount of joy. Your loved ones, your favorite TV show, your favorite candle, the sound of the rain, hot showers, tea, my weighted blanket, popsicles, walking, potatoes, my strong feet, dogs, my THUMBS. Phew, okay, thanks for indulging me as I used that space for my own list. It helps!

2. BE KIND

It’s no secret that practicing kindness has the side effect of making you feel good. Devoting even a small amount of time to helping others can not only make a huge difference in someone else’s life, but it can provide the giver with a sense of purpose. It serves as a reminder of all the good that exists in the world. Volunteer at your favorite charity or make time to visit a lonely neighbor. If the life circumstances that are causing your grief, illness, injury or isolation keep you from practicing kindness the way you might have before, remember that this too is something you have lost. Honor that, but don’t let it stop you. Choose something accessible. Write a letter to a friend, crochet a blanket for the local hospital birthing unit, ask a senior-living facility if they have residents who might benefit from a weekly phone call.

Ugh, I hate this one. There is no expiration date attached to grief. Allow yourself to visit grief when you need to. Visit! Give the emotions that come with grief the voice and time they need. Remember to use coping strategies to keep you from becoming stuck there. Eat, drink water, move, rest and connect. Look for love. That includes love for yourself even if your “self” isn’t what you expected. Grief can be a lifelong journey. It will likely change over time. Learning to live with grief doesn’t mean learning how to make it go away; it means learning how to move through your day-today life with hope and purpose, even in the presence of grief.

It is a rare human who lives past 5 or 6 years old and does not experience some loss. A tooth, a grandparent, a pet, a favorite toy. It is a part of our humanness, born out of our ability to feel comfort, that we mourn things we cherished when they are gone. Our youth, our athletic prowess, our energy, our innocence. Wherever you are with your own experience of grief, take a moment to recognize that the feelings and experiences you have had around loss are valid. Remind yourself that you are not alone in facing challenges and changes life can bring. You are valuable. With joy, kindness, patience and HELP, we can move through anything life throws at us. Eventually.

Erika Taylor is a community wellness instigator at Taylored Fitness, the original online wellness mentoring system. Taylored Fitness believes that everyone can discover small changes in order to make themselves and their communities more vibrant, and that it is only possible to do our best work in the world if we make a daily commitment to our health. Visit facebook.com/erika.taylor.303 or email erika@ tayloredfitness.com.

how the prediction skills of AI can turn into a potentially harmful profiling tool. UNICEF’s 2021 AI Guide for Parents states: “AI-driven recommendations for news stories, online community groups, friends and more are based on profiling – they feed people content based on their preferences, and search history, creating thought filter bubbles. AI can also be used to amplify disinformation and bias, endangering children’s ability to develop and to express themselves freely.”

All the above considered, it is vital that supportive adults do their own research about AI tools, and then have thoughtful, inclusive discussions with our youth on awareness and best practices while engaging with them.

Jill Carstens taught for 30 years and now enjoys writing for this publication. You can view more of her writing on Instagram @lettersfrommissjill. Email her with comments or story ideas at jill@denvernorthstar.com.

New Colorado-based Memoir is Available!

Jill’s memoir reflects on the changing landscapes of our state and how, growing up, natural and urban settings helped her

For upcoming information on book reading and signing events go to: JillCarstensWriter.com

ERIKA TAYLOR

North Star Columnist, “Letters from Miss Jill,” Jill Carstens’