Nightmare On Albion Street
Neighbors Have Endured Eight Months Of Torn Up
Streets And Sidewalks. The City Is Just Getting Started
By Cara DeGette GPHN Editor
There was no warning, neighbors say, of the horror show coming to the residential blocks near Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue — which is now running into its eighth month.
The first hint was the sudden, unexplained appearance in early March of metal temporary no-parking signs up and down both sides of the streets.
Lauran Williamson and dozens of her neighbors say they got no written notice, no warning, no information from the city, nor from Xcel Energy, nor from its subcontractor, about the massive gas line project that required tearing up the roads and sidewalks in their neighborhood. Nor have they been formally notified by Denver officials about what will be coming next: an even bigger stormwater drainage project that will shut down their streets for months at a time beginning next year.
lec TI on 2024
When workers showed up, Williamson, who lives with her husband and young daughters in a tidy Foursquare-style home on the corner of Albion and Batavia, went outside to ask what was going on.
“I spoke to the foreman, and he was kind,” she said. “He gave me his card and said they were moving the gas line from under the street to the interior of the sidewalks. He said there would be a lot of disturbance, but that they would return everything to the way it was when they were done.”
The project was scheduled to be finished in three months, on May 3.
Now, eight months (and two foremen) later, life for Williamson and her family — and dozens of residents living in the southwest corner of Park Hill — is far from returning to normal. And, as they’re only recently beginning to learn, life for them is not likely to return to normal anytime soon.
continued on page 4
The Ballot Beckons
Nov. 5 Is Election Day. Still Haven’t Voted? Get It Done
By Cara DeGette Editor, GPHN
Calling all procrastinators: The ballot may be long, but time is running out.
On Nov. 5, Colorado voters will help pick a new president. They’ll decide whether to approve or reject 14 statewide ballot issues plus another 12 Denver-specific questions ranging from abortion rights to school “choice” to same-sex marriage to whether wildcat hunting should be banned.
(Details about all of all the amendments and propositions on the Denver and Colorado ballots appeared in last month’s Greater Park Hill News and can be reviewed online at this link: tinyurl.com/ElectionDrama.)
Colorado voters will also elect
members of Congress, state legislators and a University of Colorado regent. They’ll be asked whether they want to retain a slew of judges. Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López has predicted turnout could be as high as 90 percent. That would mean city election workers would process over 1.2 million ballot pages, an all-time record high in Denver’s election history.
In Colorado, eligible voters can register to vote and vote in person on Election Day up to 7 p.m. All ballots must be received by Denver Elections Division by 7 p.m. If you’re voting in person, you must be in line by 7 p.m.
Check GoVoteColorado.gov or call the Denver Elections Division at 720-913-8683 for more information,
including the location of in-person polling sites.
In Colorado, Blue Books were mailed to all registered voters, including in English and in Spanish. The Blue Books include information about all the state ballot issues, including pro and con arguments for each proposal. A Denver-specific Blue Book that includes pros and cons about local issues is mailed separately.
If you didn’t receive Blue Books, you can review them at any Denver Public Library or online at these links:
• Colorado Blue Book: tinyurl.com/CO24bluebook
• Denver Blue Book: tinyurl.com/BallotBooklet
There are several sites in and around the neighborhood to drop off your completed and signed ballot: Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center at 33rd and Holly Street, the Museum of Nature and Science in City Park, East High School and the Montclair Recreation Center in the Lowry neighborhood.
After you’ve turned in your ballot, check DenverVotes.org, where you can track it like a package — from the day it’s delivered to the moment it’s been counted.
Once you’ve got your ballot in, it’s time to blow off a little steam. Turn to page 7 for a yard sign collage highlighting the many creative ways that Park Hill neighbors have expressed their viewpoints during this twisty, turn-filled election year.
Park Hill is yard sign central. Turn to page 7 for the full effect. Photos by Mark Silverstein
Lauran Williamson stands on the porch of her home on Albion Street.
Photo by Cara DeGette
cIT y h A ppen I ngs
Compost At Last
On Oct. 17, the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) mailed letters to approximately 13,400 households in Park Hill, Central Park, and parts of East Colfax letting them know compost collection service is starting soon in their neighborhoods — nearly two years after the City Council approved the pay-as-youthrow program.
Residents had 10 days — until Oct. 27 — to let DOTI know what size compost cart they want. Those who did not receive the notice or have a chance to respond by the deadline can call the city hotline at 3-1-1, or check out denvergov.org/compost for info.
According to the city, the carts will be delivered to homes beginning in November, along with small kitchen pails and a compost how-to guide. Collection starts the week after a customer’s cart arrives.
The City Council approved the pay-as-you-throw program to begin in January, 2023. Residents pay differing amounts depending on the size of their trash cart, and recycling and composting services were increased to weekly pick-ups. However, the city delayed the compost component of the program. City officials cited the need to “educate” the public on how to compost as the reason for a phased rollout. With the new service to northeast Denver neighborhoods, Denver estimates that compost collection will reach 62 percent of the city’s customers.
Farewell To Fall
The leaves are falling, and Denver’s LeafDrop program is in full swing. Residents can download a coupon to receive a free five-pack of paper leaf bags at Ace Hardware stores. (Link: beasmartash.org/denver-leafdropcoupon)
The giant paper leaf bags are compostable through November. In addition, several designated sites are available to drop off paper bags of leafs, lawn debris and old pumpkins. Leaves that are in plastic bags must be emptied on site.
The following LeafDrop locations are open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 30:
• Cherry Creek Transfer Station –7301 E. Jewell Ave.
• Havana Nursery – 10450 Smith Rd.
The following LeafDrop locations are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2-17:
• Bruce Randolph High School – E. 40th Ave. and Steele St.
• Cherry Creek Transfer Station
– 7301 E. Jewell Ave.
Colfax BRT Kicks Off
On Oct. 4 city and federal officials kicked off Denver’s controversial $280 million Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The plan is to install center-lane buses on Colfax Avenue running from Broadway (at the state Capitol) to the eastern edge of Denver (at Yosemite Street).
The construction is starting at Broadway and will work eastward. Completion is currently estimated to be the end of 2027. When it’s finished, the driving lanes on Colfax Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction, raising concerns about traffic spilling over to residential neighborhood streets, including through Park Hill.
Denver city government has established a program called “We Back the Fax” to support local businesses along the corridor during construction. The website is denvergov.org/ webackthefax.
People can learn more and sign up for construction updates at the city’s official BRT project page: denvergov.org/colfaxbrt.
whO we Are
Editor: Cara DeGette
Manager: Brenda Morrison
Ad Sales: Melissa Davis and Denise Fisher
Art Director: Tommy Kubitsky
how to fIND US
Voicemail: 720-287-0442
Email: newspaper@greaterparkhill.org
Address: 2823 Fairfax St. Denver, 80207
Website: greaterparkhill.org
Facebook: facebook.com/greaterparkhillnews
Twitter: @parkhillnews
CoNtACt US
Story Tips and Letters to the Editor: Cara DeGette:
The Greater Park Hill News is published by Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC) on the 1st of each month. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily the opinions of GPHC. GPHC does not necessarily endorse the companies, products or services advertised in The Greater Park Hill News unless specifically stated. GPHC reserves the right to run any advertisement.
Circulation is 13,000 and is distributed in the Park Hill Area by neighborhood volunteers.
The Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., is a volunteerbased registered neighborhood organization that: promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill; provides resources, information and advocacy; and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation.
Tens of thousands of compost bins have been sitting in a field at Havana and Smith Road, awaiting distribution to residents. Photo by Mark Silverstein
Graceful And Bold
The Red-winged Blackbird is one of the most abundant birds in North America and is sometimes considered a symbol of good luck and fortune. Males are glossy-black with flashy scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches. They live in marshes year-round and can often be spotted atop cattails, along soggy roadsides and on telephone wires. Bold and fearless, Red-winged Blackbirds will attack larger birds — such as hawks or crows — that fly over their nesting areas. This beauty was photographed at Bluff Lake by Mark Silverstein.
Hill Album (Park Hill Stats) latest png
In a nutshell, this is the scope of the overall project, which extends from Colfax to 17th Avenue and from Colorado Boulevard to Dahlia Street:
• The City and County of Denver plans to install massive, 9-foot stormwater drainage pipes underneath Batavia Place, from Colorado Boulevard to Dahlia Street. The project also includes a portion of Albion Street.
• The streets are narrow, so to make way for the stormwater pipes, Xcel Energy is moving gas lines from under the streets to underneath the sidewalks. That requires digging up all the sidewalks.
• Denver Water must eventually move its water lines to accommodate the city’s huge stormwater project. Lead pipes are also scheduled to be replaced.
The multi-phased project is likely to last another 18 months. Residents
and businesses will be living in a construction zone for much of the time, losing access to entire blocks. Parking will be restricted — even residents with driveways will not be able to use them for months at a time.
Matt Fariss, the project manager for Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, described it this way: Neighbors can expect nothing less than “shock and awe.”
Stopped showing up
When the project began, neither Williamson nor her neighbors knew about the grand scheme — just that Xcel’s subcontractor, Sitewise, was moving gas lines in their neighborhood. As the months wore on, their patience has worn thin.
“In the first couple days [the workers] were here every day, then it was spotty,” Williamson said. “They stopped coming on Fridays, then they stopped coming on Mondays.” Sometimes entire weeks passed without any workers showing up.
The workers may not be consistently on site, but their mess sure is. Bulldozers and other heavy equipment have been left parked along the streets, along with chunks of debris. Massive mounds of dirt, 20-feet long by four-feet high— often left uncovered — are piled along the curbs. When the wind blows, guess where the dust goes?
Entire blocks of sidewalks have been torn up and left temporarily patched for months. The temporary filling
eight Months Of Mayhem
Blocked Access, No Parking, Mice, Trash, Damaged Property
In September, Lauran Williamson and Patty Paul, who both live near 16th and Albion, canvassed their neighbors for their experiences during what was supposed to be a three-month-long project that has stretched to eight months.
Williamson and Paul collected forms from 35 neighbors living in the construction zone with their concerns and complaints. They provided the forms to Denver City Councilman Darrell Watson during a Sept. 30 meeting.
Of the 35 responses, 32 people said they had not been notified of the project.
The following are some of the complaints and concerns:
• James Klinger: Access to his driveway, litter on his yard, cigarette smoke from workers, noise, which awakened his napping child, damage to sidewalk/yard/trees, paint on his landscape rock, and a concern about how he would
is a tarry substance resembling soft pebbly asphalt — which winds up tracked onto lawns and landscaping, even inside homes, and embeds in shoes and in the paws of neighborhood pets.
On several blocks workers laid immense metal plates to cover large holes on numerous sections of the streets. These plates are supposed to be temporary, but they’ve been there for months, lingering hazards for bicyclists, pedestrians and cars.
The temporary no-parking signs — which remain even when the workers are absent — prohibit people from parking in front of their homes.
A learning moment
In October, Bryan Stubbs, the current project manager for Sitewise, attributed many of the delays to materials, including new pipes, being on backorder.
Representatives from Xcel and Sitewise insist that notices were hung on doors of impacted homes in midFebruary to alert neighbors of the project. “Maybe people tossed them out,” Stubbs said.
Dozens of impacted residents say
they received no notice. Williamson, a college counselor who often meets with clients on her front porch, flatly rejects the suggestion she somehow missed the announcement. “I work from home. I would have seen any notice that would have been left.”
Neither Xcel or Sitewise have provided any updates or explanations to neighbors about the delays that pushed a three-month project to eight months long. Officials now say the work will be finished on Nov. 8.
“I understand how much pain that people are going through and can definitely see how people are frustrated,” Stubbs told the Greater Park Hill News. “[In retrospect], some things we could definitely do better, as far as site cleanliness, and giving people more of a timeline about what [the project] would look like, to make sure people know. It’s definitely a learning moment.”
“I am so disappointed”
On several occasions last spring, Williamson reported damage to her property in letters to Xcel’s project manager, Stephanie Ahmedić: Workers had driven huge trucks onto Williamson’s lawn, destroying part of
shovel the snow on his damaged sidewalk.
• Ryan Martin: “No warning on days when roads are closed.”
• Jay Peterson: “Blocked access to my house and driveway. Destroyed my flagstone pieces on sidewalk ($500 each). Half the time when workers are here they are sitting around. This project is taking considerably longer than it seems like it should take. Road debris/ cones have been in the street and sidewalks for the last year.”
• Sunnie Kim: “Concerned about sprinkler, lawn issues, being able to come to my garage. We also have a new mice problem and I’m concerned it’s related to the huge construction mounds next to our home.
• Nathan Jackson: “Major inconvenience, lack of communication, total neighborhood takeover, no parking, dirty, noisy, received a parking ticket in front of my own house, holes everywhere, heavy equipment that concerns me as a father of a 4-year old who plays outside, narrow pathways for cars due to restricted areas.”
• Scott Bora: “No communication.”
• Diana Lucas: “Explain what this is.”
• Irma Lucas: “Inconvenience for no known purpose. What is the purpose of the project? Who is responsible? When will work start? Trash collection.”
• Belinda Nelson: “Poor communication to neighbors regarding all
phases of this project, as well as how it will affect our daily lives, i.e. parking, trash pickup, our trees in our yards, noise and Sitewise behavior. No apparent coordination of the various projects and their timing and site work. Our access to our homes has been continually hampered since March, when this began. Damage to our trees lawns, etc., with no warning or plan to repair.”
• Patty Paul: “Access to garage and alley is unpredictable. No communication about project. Damage to neighbors’ property. No trash pickup when street is blocked for construction work. Contradictory information about parked cars being towed. Loss of tree canopy.”
• Lorna McCallister: “It’s difficult/ dangerous to walk on the sidewalks/roads at night with the uneven pavement, gaps, metal plates, etc. And especially with animals or for people with disabilities. I fear tripping, falling, my dog tripping, falling, etc. I know the project needs to be done, but it could be done faster, or more importantly, more safely.”
Lauran Williamson, on the spot where a 50-plus year old hackberry tree grew in front of her house. The tree was killed when workers cut through at least two sides of the roots and left it unwatered for months. Sitewise, the company doing the work for Xcel, was fined $18,000 for the tree. Photo by Cara DeGette
Workers digging. At press time the tree at right was also declared dead after its roots had been cut through on three sides. Photo courtesy of Lauran Williamson
Photo by Cara DeGette
the sprinkler, grass and other landscaping. Her front yard (not the right of way) had been dug up and covered by metal plates and asphalt without any communication or permission.
Other neighbors have weighed in with a variety of concerns over the ongoing work — including a lack of access and parking to torn-up sidewalks and streets, to property damage and workers operating loud equipment early in the morning and sometimes on weekends.
“I believe in city improvements, but this is not the experience I, or any of my neighbors, should have to endure,” Williamson wrote. Ahmedić responded that Xcel would restore Williamson’s yard and sidewalk to its “original condition.”
In April, Williamson also attempted to contact her city councilman, Darrell Watson. In a respectfully-crafted letter on April 18, she thanked the councilman for his service, and for his dedication and commitment.
She detailed numerous concerns about the project, including the damage to her front yard and the ongoing lack of communication about the length and scope of the project. The city’s brand-new ADAcompliant sidewalk on her corner, she noted, had been destroyed.
Watson’s aide, Darius Shelby, inexplicably forwarded Williamson’s letter to a representative with Denver Water — a separate entity with no current involvement in the project.
Two weeks later Shelby sent a short email to Williamson, saying he had reached out to Xcel. “Either they or I will follow up with a response,” he wrote. Neither did.
Nearly three months later, on July 2, Williamson sent another email to the councilman’s aide, highlighting a new concern: her neighbor Bill, who relies on a walker, was clearly having trouble navigating the torn-up sidewalks. She included a photo of Bill. “I am so disappointed about how this project has been handled,” Williamson wrote. She reminded Shelby that she, along with other neighbors, have been trying to get information for months. “Xcel, Sitewise . . . and the city continue to neglect to keep us in the loop.”
“We can all do better,” she wrote. “Right now, I need your help before my neighbor gets hurt. When will the cement work be completed on the sidewalks so my neighbor will be safe?”
The next day, Shelby responded: “I am sorry these issues are still taking place. I reached out to Xcel regarding your concerns and will follow up when I have a response.”
The councilman’s aide, Williamson said, never followed up.
Heartbreak of a dead tree
In early July, Williamson and her family left town for a summer vacation. When they returned, they were faced with a new heartbreak: a massive hackberry tree in front of their house — a tree at least 50 years old — was dead. Workers had dug through the massive roots on at least two sides. They had cut the irrigation lines, and the tree had not received any water during a historically hot summer.
The dead tree was removed.
Williamson was devastated about the old tree. At press time, her neighbor, Belinda Nelson, confirmed that another tree growing next to the old hackberry is also dead. They, and other neighbors, are worried about many of the other trees in the area that the project has stressed.
On Aug. 9 Williamson and their neighbors were finally able to meet on her block with representatives from Xcel, Sitewise and the city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.
At that meeting, Matt Fariss, the DOTI project manager said from the city’s perspective, the Xcel work is a separate project altogether. Though the Xcel work is being done to accommodate Denver’s stormwater project, the city, Fariss said, is not responsible for notifying property owners until the city’s portion of the project begins.
In late summer, Williamson and other neighbors collected testimonials — 35 in all — highlighting the multitude of grievances and frustrations they’ve experienced as a result of the ongoing construction work (see accompanying story on previous page).
On Sept. 30, Williamson and another neighbor, Patty Paul, were finally able to schedule a meeting with their city councilman. It took 7-1/2 weeks to get on Darrell Watson’s calendar for a 30-minute meeting.
At that meeting, which the Greater Park Hill News attended, Watson was sympathetic. He said it was the first time he’d heard about it. “For something this massive, I honestly was not aware that this was all happening,” he said.
Watson offered to coordinate a community meeting, which took place on Oct. 22.
Not important enough
As for Williamson, she said she left the meeting with her councilman feeling like she was heard, but noted that she and her neighbors have been asking his office for help for months.
“One of the things that was disappointing to me was that [the councilman] mentioned he was unaware that all of this was happening. Patty [Paul] and I have had interactions with members of his office for months, so it obviously wasn’t important enough or big enough to be brought to his attention.”
Williamson said that she understands there are bigger problems in the city. But, she says, she loves her neighborhood and her neighbors, and misses being able to enjoy the tranquility of her block. What her family lives in now — and for the foreseeable future — is a noisy and dusty construction zone.
“The word I have for this whole
project is ‘negligence’,” she said. “The planning was neglected, the communication was neglected, the tree was neglected, our property was neglected, I have been neglected.
“It feels like the city believes it can do anything it wants with my property.”
Next month: What’s next for Albion Street? A major $10 million city stormwater pipe project begins next year.
Tire marks from trucks driving on lawns. Courtesy of Lauran Williamson
Bill, a neighbor, navigating uneven sidewalks covered with slippery metal plates. Courtesy of Lauran Williamson
Temporary and patched sidewalks have been in place for months. Courtesy of Lauran Williamson
and Architectural Digest Germany
By Tracey MacDermott For the GPHN
For several years, you may have been hearing commercials about Camp Lejeune and water contamination. Maybe you wondered what they were about or maybe you simply ignored the infomercial. Maybe you got tired of being barraged by constant television ads about the contamination.
However, the presence of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a serious issue. At Camp Lejeune, a military base in North Carolina, toxic chemicals contaminated the drinking water for decades, beginning in the 1950s and into the 1980s. Many of the compounds that contaminated the water are PFAS — more commonly known as forever chemicals. They are linked to various cancers and other medical issues.
These chemicals, which resist grease, oil, water and heat, do not naturally break down. The Veterans Administration compared the medical records of 172,000 veterans who had been at Camp Lejeune and 168,000 veterans who were at Camp Pendleton in California during the same time period. Camp Lejeune veterans had a 70 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease.
Last year, The Guardian reported that chemicals originating from at least 245 US military bases have contaminated or threatened to pollute drinking water in nearby communities. The military’s use of firefighting foam, which releases the chemicals during discharge, is one of the largest PFAS polluters on the planet.
The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that these chemicals are widespread. They are found in water, air, soil, and in fish across the globe, and can seep into drinking water supplies through various ways.
Last year, Perfluorooctanoic acid — one of the forever chemicals — was reclassified as a human carcinogen. While we know that exposure to these chemicals among military personnel outpaces the general public, we are all at risk. Forever chemicals are in cookware, waterproof clothing, even mascara. Avoiding them seems nearly impossible.
In April the Biden administration took critical action to protect com-
munities from forever chemicals. President Biden committed historic levels of funding to combat contamination from forever chemicals and to delivering clean water. The Safe Drinking Water Act safeguards public health by requiring public water systems to monitor and reduce the levels of PFAS in drinking water. In 2022 Biden also signed a bill to provide assistance to victims of Agent Orange and toxic burn pits. However, there is currently no similar assistance for military personnel who have been exposed to unacceptable levels of forever chemicals. Last year Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan introduced the Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act. While Congress is debating Kildee’s bill, and any subsequent pieces of legislation, what can you do to limit your own exposure? There are some simple measures to take:
1. Avoid products made with PFAStreated fabric such as stain-resistant clothing.
2. Bring your own take-out container to restaurants (it’s best to use nonplastic containers). Food packaging, microwave popcorn bags and grease-resistant paper contain PFAS. It’s worth noting that there has been some progress in this area. For example in Colorado, HB22-1345 prohibits distributing any product in food packaging that “intentionally” contains forever chemicals.
3. Replace your non-stick pans with stainless steel, cast-iron, glass or ceramics.
4. Don’t heat up food wrapped in grease-resistant packaging. A few more things you can do: On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11 — and every day — thank a vet. And, do what you can to reduce your risk. Work for a safe and healthy planet.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large board member of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017. She chairs the Sustainability Committee for the Business and Professional Women of Colorado and the National Federation for Business and Professional Women. Email her at traceymacdermott@gmail.com
Remembering Victor Bencomo
Victor Bencomo, one of four Democrats who ran to succeed Rep. Leslie Herod in the Colorado House of Representatives this year, died on Oct. 1. He was 50. Shortly after he his unsuccessful bid for office, Bencomo, a father, husband and veteran, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. When announcing the news in May, Bencomo noted the cancer was directly linked to toxic exposure from burn pits during his tours as a combat medic in Iraq. Bencomo was most recently the president of the Colorado chapter of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, a group led by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. A memorial service for Bencomo is Saturday, Nov. 2 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Cube, 8371 Northfield Dr.
Victor Bencomo, with his service dog Rey, in February at an HD 8 forum.
Photo by Cara DeGette
Yard Sign Mania
Park Hill loves its yard signs, and when it comes to presidential picks, creativity ruled this campaign season. In last month’s issue we noted an absence of pro-Donald Trump signs in this mostly-liberal neighborhood. A dozen readers promptly sent in tips for where to find a few — including a massive Trump flag billowing from the side of a mansion on Montview and Albion. But size couldn’t trump volume — and the neighborhood is decidedly a sea of Cat Ladies for Harris and Swifties for Harris and Veterans For Harris and . . . you get the picture. Check out even more yard sign photos online at greaterparkhill.org/yard-sign-mania/ (including many embracing issues and ballot measures). Email your top three favorites to editor@greaterparkhill. org and we’ll announce the winners in next month’s issue.
Photos by Mark Silverstein
Imagine A Competent City
Here’s A Suggestion: Move Denver Health To Denver International Airport
By Dan Danbom
For the GPHN
As a native Denverite, I think I’ve always voted for sales tax increases and bond issues. But this time may be different with the mayor’s .5 percent tax increase for affordable housing, another .34 percent to “stabilize” Denver Health, and, separately, Denver Public Schools’ expected request for “substantial” additional money for capital projects.
Methinks the Broncos will also want money for a new stadium before you can say “winning season.”
Putting aside the idea that raising taxes will make Denver more affordable — yes, that’s the argument — as both a resident and the owner of a small business, I’d first like to see Denver demonstrate even the slightest bit of competence with the funds it already has.
Where are the new parks?
Six years ago, we passed a measure to raise funds for the acquisition of parks. To date, the city has raised over a quarter billion dollars toward that purpose. Where are the new parks? Last year, voters turned down a developer’s plans to re-develop the desert formerly known as the Park Hill Golf Course. Voters hoped the city would buy the property and turn it into a regional park. Instead of re-opening it as a golf course, as it is contractually obligated to do, the developer vindictively let it go to seed. The city seems fine with this. Here at the Printed Page Bookshop
that I co-own, we also have a bag fee. Although we provide only alreadyused bags (for which we already pay a bag fee ), the city told us we need to charge the customers for each bag dispensed.
We use maybe 24 bags every quarter. We collect $2.40, of which we get to keep 96 cents. We have to file quarterly bag fee payments with the city, which our accountant prepares. To our dismay, she charges us more than 96 cents for the time she spends preparing the filing. I’d rather the city just let us give it some money — say $50 a year — and we’ll promise not to give out more than 500 bags, so long as we don’t have to file quarterly payments. The city has collected about $5 million in bag fees and is now trying to figure out what to do with the money. My suggestion? Pay my accountant to do your paperwork.
There are more petty nuisances for businesses in the form of fees. We pay a $50 fee to have a sandwich board in front of our store. We were told earlier that sandwich boards were a hazard to pedestrians, but the $50 magically makes them safe. We asked the city inspector what the $50 went for. He said it went to pay for city inspectors like him.
Just a thought, but maybe the money could go toward policing traffic laws. Street racers in cars and motorcycles routinely roar down our thoroughfares with impunity. Red lights and stop signs have become mere suggestions. When was the last time you saw a cop pull over
a car for a traffic violation? Not in this decade for me.
We pay for trash pick-up. Of course, we always have, but the new system promised more recycling and composting. The compost bin we requested two years ago has yet to arrive. I’m told the bins are warehoused in northeast Denver.
Residents voted to raise money for sidewalks. The city is still trying to figure out how to do that.
The 16th Street Mall? Behind schedule and tens of millions of dollars over budget. So low are the city’s expectations that it celebrated the completion of a single block of the project.
Endless supply of money
All of these boondoggles pale in comparison to the city’s bottomless money pit: Denver International Airport. The $70 million Denver Health needs? That’s chump change at DIA, which paid $181 million just to cancel a contract.
So that you don’t think I’m just another grumpy old man prone to rants, let me end with a positive suggestion: Move Denver Health to DIA.
DIA has an endless supply of money, so much so that it could blow off a few hundred million on a new hospital and not break a sweat. Better yet, as DIA always reminds us, none of the money spent there costs taxpayers anything. Already hoping to become a “destination” for more than just flyers, locating Denver Health at the airport would allow people visiting their sick loved ones to shop and dine at a world-
class facility, easily accessible from anywhere in the metro area. And what is an Aerotropolis — the city’s newest grandiose scheme — without a hospital?
According to Aerotropolis promoters, “Colorado Aerotropolis is a forward-looking model for development that builds on the region’s success and creates opportunities for purpose-driven organizations to bring ambitious visions to life. Advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, renewable energy and healthcare are only a few of the industries of the future that call Colorado home.”
And the old Denver Health facility? Convert it to housing for the homeless as well. It even has special facilities for those homeless dealing with substance abuse. Problem solved!
Does the City of Denver need more money? I don’t think so. Convince me that I’m wrong.
Dan Danbom is co-owner of Printed Page Bookshop, at 1416 S. Broadway.
The author in front of his bookstore with his sandwich board, for which he paid the city $50 to keep everyone safe. Photo by Cara DeGette
Beavers Know Best
Ordinance 308, the fur ban initiative, is a great start for Denver, and it needs to go further. Colorado needs to protect the beaver – that most industrious water engineer, pond and dam construction genius and habitat builder. After its near extinction by the fur trade, the beaver is being reintroduced for its spectacular impact on wetland restoration, particularly in environmentally degraded areas. It is known as a “Keystone Species,” because it is integral to a nature-based solution to climate change and worsening drought conditions. Beavers control melting snowpack’s water flow and redistribution, slowing it down through their dams, underground canals and ponds. These create fire breaks that mitigate wildfire damage, and they store and filter water that seeps back into the aquifer. When their ponds are abandoned, the fertile soil left behind are nutrient-rich and fallow meadows.
However, once again the species is faced with pushback from humans.
In Colorado, they are considered pests, varmints, nuisances, etc. They can still be shot, trapped, poisoned, or otherwise lethally disposed of. Yes, they eat wood — trees, decks, furniture — and yes, their ponds might just flood one’s basement or clog up a culvert. If we would only co-exist and partner with the beaver in particular, and other fur bearing animals in general, we may discover that their intelligence, persistence and overall contributions far outweigh our own pre-conceived notions of tradition and prejudice in favor of human / technological superiority.
So let’s pass ballot measure 308 for the benefit of all of Coloradans and for the protection of God’s little water engineer who stubbornly builds and will keep building, trying to show humanity what is possible. It’s time for a different paradigm – one that challenges the status quo.
Therese-Marie
O’Sullivan, Park Hill
The Critical Quartet
The Nov. 5 election offers Denver voters an opportunity to approve four measures that will improve the safety and quality of life in our communities.
Proposition KK would establish a statewide 6.5 percent sales tax on firearms, firearms components, and ammunition. This additional revenue would be used for support services for crime victims, mental health services for veterans, and
school safety programs. Suicides are the highest percentage of gun deaths, and tragically, many of these are by returning veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).
Three are on the Denver ballot. 4A asks voters to approve a $975 million bond issue (not a tax increase) to be used for needed additions and improvements to Denver Public Schools that includes air conditioning. As the earth warms due to climate change, so do classrooms. Students, teachers, and staff deserve a safe, comfortable environment in which to work and learn.
2R would increase Denver sales tax by 0.5 percent with the additional revenue to be used for affordable housing. Providing people with suitable housing will help them become contributing members of society
which will subsequently stimulate Colorado’s economy.
Finally, measure 2Q would increase the Denver sales tax by 0.34 percent to provide much needed revenue for Denver Health. We believe that quality health care is a right, rather than a privilege for the affluent.
Please vote YES on KK, 4A, 2R, and 2Q.
Frank and Jan Tapy, Park Hill
We love your letters, and give preference to those that address an issue that has been covered in the newspaper, or a topic that is Park Hill or Denver-specific. Send letters to editor@greaterparkhill.org, and include your full name and the neighborhood in which you live. Deadlines are the 15th of each month, for the following month’s issue.
Beaver and beaver evidence in Denver. File photos by Reid Neureiter
The Mean Streets Of Denver
What Traffic Laws? With Little To No Enforcement, Our Streets Are Lord Of The Flies On Wheels
By Gary Martyn For the GPHN
Nearly everyone has a story about crazy driving in Denver. Maybe something you witnessed, maybe worse.
We had one of our dearest friends get hit by a man who ran both red lights at Monaco and Colfax. He knocked her car halfway to Locust, totaled it, broke bones in her neck, and did it without a driver’s license or insurance, and in a borrowed truck.
Those of you who frequently travel Colfax are treated to all manner of crazy stuff. A motorcycle group traveling en masse, some doing wheelies, riding on the sidewalk, blocking intersections. The little drag races, the cutting in and out, and on and on. Bits of cars that are in the street and on the curbing some mornings. The signs that have been run over. In July, there were two, some say three, rollover accidents on the narrow section of Quebec between Montview and Colfax.
risen — and significantly so — ever since.
Last year 83 people died on Denver streets, and a record 425 people suffered serious bodily injuries.
This year, as of Oct. 26 there have been 60 traffic deaths in Denver.
The problem is that Denver government itself is a major cause of the problem.
Sometime during or right after the pandemic, city officials made a conscious decision to stop enforcing traffic laws. I realize that the pandemic brought pressures of short staffing, and there have been problems with police stops, but just letting us fight it out amongst ourselves doesn’t seem to be working well.
Just letting us fight it out amongst ourselves doesn’t seem to be working well.
There apparently wasn’t a plan B.
at right. Photo courtesy of Gary Martyn
so she was quite a bit over.
Stoplights and stop signs some days feel like they are just suggestions. The situation is like Lord of the Flies on wheels.
Denver has been trying to combat this with Vision Zero, originally a Swedish program that has been replicated by many U.S. municipalities to combat traffic mayhem. Denver’s goal is to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious bodily injuries by improving road safety by — get this — 2030.
Denver started with Vision Zero in 2017. That year, there were 51 traffic fatalities and 292 serious bodily injuries. Those numbers have steadily
It seems many metro areas are having the same problem. Reading about causes to roadway woes all over has been interesting. Some blame city planners for streets that are too wide. Some blame traffic engineers for too-high speeds. Some blame fire departments for responding to calls that aren’t fires in their big trucks and being inflexible on road design. Some say cars are too big, and trucks are even bigger.
It is a challenge to modernize city streets that were designed in a much different era for a different set of circumstances. At the end of the day, however, people are driving fast and recklessly without any checks on their behavior.
We are so used to driving as fast as we want that it is now normal. I was surprised one recent day when driving east on Montview just east of Krameria. A woman driving a minivan full of kids passed me. I checked my speed. I was a bit over the limit,
The town of Morrison, just west of us, installed a speed camera to issue tickets. In May, they issued around 10,000 of them in just two weeks, and the camera only snaps the vehicles going 10 miles per hour over.
I don’t think we are slowing down anytime soon.
Denver’s Vision Zero offers ideas to help combat traffic mayhem. You can read it on the city’s website, at this link: tinyurl.com/DenverVisionZero.
It’s about 70 pages of government speak, but it has these handy tips: • Public transit is the safest way to travel the city, it says. (Tell that to someone who must ride the Colfax or Federal bus).
• Identify problematic areas and take actions to reduce speed and volume. (That’s where all the bendy posts, bollards, squiggly lines and faux roundabouts come from.)
• Reduce speed limits in highequity areas. (Denver reduced the residential street speed limit to 20 miles per hour citywide unless otherwise posted. Trouble is, no
one pays attention. The speed limit on 23rd Avenue just went down to 25 miles per hour. Trouble is, no one pays attention. Do you see a trend?)
Vision Zero does make a couple of references to enforcement. They are mentioned in passing, kind of like a last resort. No one wants to get a ticket, and the police seem happy not to have to give them out. That leaves us with precious few ways of returning the streets to a safer situation. I certainly don’t have an answer to this. I do know the city has really let us all down. We pay a lot for public safety, and we have been left high and dry. Leaders with vision would have recognized the perils of abandoning traffic enforcement and would have had a backup plan.
Our city administrators give us bendy posts and bollards — and apparently just hope they work.
This bus bench, on Quebec Street just north of Colfax in Park Hill, was crumpled like an accordion last year when a car crashed into it. The car then took out the fence in front of the house above and came to rest near the front porch of the second house,
Gary Martyn is a Park Hill native.
East senior midfielder Clayton Thomas (#10) dribbles through Northfield defenders on Oct. 22.
East triumph And tie
Soccer Team Takes Down South; New Challenger Emerges
Story and photo by Reid Neuriter
For the GPHN
The East boys soccer team is poised for a deep playoff run again this year.
But there is a new competitor challenging the Angels’ traditional position at the top of the Denver Public Schools soccer hierarchy. The Northfield Nighthawks have come on strong in recent years, winning the 4A state championship in 2022 and making the finals last year. This year, Northfield made the leap to the 5A division and sports an impressive 12-0-2 undefeated record. It is ranked No. 2 statewide as of Oct. 23.
For its part, East won the State 5A championship in 2022 and last year finished runner-up to Broomfield. As of mid-October the Angels’ record stands at 10-1-3, with a No. 5
state ranking.
The Angels won a hard-fought home victory over South on Oct. 8, with a score of 2-1. Against a quick and skilled South squad, East jumped out to an early first half twogoal lead, with speedy senior midfielder and captain Clayton Thomas both scoring and posing East’s most dangerous continuing attacking threat.
On Oct. 22, the Angels took on Northfield. The Nighthawks dominated possession for much of the match, jumping early to a 1-0 lead. But the East defense stabilized and the Angels found themselves with a 2-1 lead with just 10 minutes left to play. At five minutes left, the Nighhawks’ furious attack paid off and they were awarded a penalty kick — which ultimately left the game a 2-2 draw.
SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE
Let’s Play Ball
East Football’s Season So Far: Thrashings, Nail-biters, Heartbreakers Story and photo by Reid Neuriter
For the GPHN
The East football team is having a successful 2024 season, sporting a record of five wins and two losses as of mid-October.
Highlights so far include a 62-0 homecoming thrashing of Montebello on Sept. 27, and a nail-biting 29-26 victory over Chatfield on Oct. 11. Between those games came a substantial test at All-City Field on Oct. 5 against Columbine, the defending Colorado 5A State Champions.
The Angels kept the game against the Rebels close in the first half, with neither team scoring in the first quarter. East took a 3-0 lead thanks to a field goal at the start of the second period. But eventually, Columbine’s experience and relent-
less running attack wore down the Angels’ defensive line, and the Rebels triumphed 34-9.
Shockingly, Columbine attempted only two passes the entire game, with one falling incomplete, and the other being intercepted by East senior defensive back Deion GilesRay. But Columbine’s total of zero passing yards made little difference, as the Rebels were able to rush for 404 total yards on 56 carries. East’s offense was led by senior running back Sean Campbell, who had 40 rushing yards. Angel junior quarterback Declan MacDonald passed for 68 total yards on 10 completions and 22 attempts.
Although the East squad is improving, there is still a gap to bridge before the Angels are competitive with Colorado’s elite 5A programs.
Photo by McLeod9 Creative
Deion GilesRay (#6) celebrates with teammates after an interception of a Columbine pass attempt at AllCity Field.
Something About Mary
Home Tour Coordinator Honored For Her Commitment To Park Hill
By Cara DeGette GPHN Editor
For the past several years, Mary Salsich has coordinated the annual Park Hill Home Tour, which raises thousands each year to support the programs of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., including several food programs.
For her contributions, Salsich was named this year’s recipient of the Babb’s Award, a community service award named after longtime Park Hill United Methodist Church minister Dr. J. Carlton Babbs.
Salsich was presented with the award during the registered neighborhood organization’s annual
MS: I’ve wanted to live in Park Hill ever since I was looking to buy my first house in 1978. But I couldn’t quite afford $77,000 at the time. So, I bought in another Denver neighborhood, then built a house, then ended up moving to the suburbs until my youngest kid was out of high school. I was thrilled then to be able to buy in Park Hill (although it was a little more than $77,000).
GPHN: What’s the best change to happen since you’ve moved to Park Hill?
MS: When I lived in Centennial there were tons of kids in my neighborhood and I loved hearing them play and having kids around.
hood. I’m not sure what we can do to keep the racial diversity of the neighborhood, but [I’m hopeful] that we can keep at least the diversity in housing.
GPHN : Tell us an amusing anecdote about the Home Tour. (Maybe a story about a mix-up of some kind, or the dream home that got away…)
MS: The mix-up was this year, when the map on the Home Tour website and brochure was last year’s map. Some people rang the doorbell of some of those homes and surprised the owners when they said they were there for the Home Tour. However, one gracious homeowner
A few years ago Mary Salsich zipped around the neighborhood on her snazzy, hip scooter. She has since traded that in for a more environmentally-friendFile photo by Cara DeGette
Laws Of The Library
In Our World, Every Book Has A Reader; Every Reader Has A Book
By Rachel Reddick Park Hill Branch Librarian
The US has seen a steep rise in censorship and book challenges in recent years. If you’re curious about why libraries feel so strongly about standing against this, it helps to know a bit about the professional ethics of this field.
Public libraries are built on a foundation of specific ideals. Those criteria are a large part of their identity. One of the first concepts you learn when you begin to earn a masters in library science are the Five Laws of Library Science. They are a theoretical framework created by S.R. Ranganathan, a pioneering librarian in the early part of the 20th century.
Ranganathan was a mathematician who devised a classification system called the colon system that he believed allowed for more accuracy than the more widely used Dewey decimal system. But the Five Laws are the most well-known of his work. They are:
1. Books are for use
2. Every reader has their book
3. Every book has its reader
4. Save the time of the reader
5. The library is a living organism
The first law focuses on the idea that library collections are for interactions. We are not museums nor archives. We house resources to help
our communities, and if an item doesn’t fulfill that criterion, it doesn’t belong. Library collections should be utilized and not just admired.
The second law, “every reader has their book” and its inverse “every book has its reader” are the ones most solidly connected to the banning of books today. The idea is simple: we all have different needs that can be served with different materials. It is not the job of the library to decide how a resource should be utilized or why a customer wants to be connected to a specific one. A person expresses a need for information and the library tries to make a connection to it.
Books, movies, databases, etc. are all connections and each one may have a different importance to every individual. Just because something isn’t popular or widely used by the masses should not diminish its worth.
You may sometimes wonder why more popular titles have such long holds lists. If more people want it, isn’t it the responsibility of the library to ensure that people have it?
The answer is only to an extent. We cannot and should not only serve those concepts with the greatest number of supporters. Part of our budget will always be dedicated to lesser-known materials.
For example, our collection of large print titles isn’t as widely used as our regular print one. That does
not make it less essential. Our computers are open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not prioritize use of them. Someone job hunting is offered access equal to those who are looking up trivia on their favorite movie. And topics you might personally find distasteful, offensive, or dangerous are not prioritized over those that you personally like. It is essential that our public libraries don’t operate with only part of its community in mind.
Moving on to our fourth law, “save the time of the reader.” This one means the librarian needs to be able to know where everything is and the right questions to ask to find it.
My colleagues and I are here to help find what you may not even know you’re looking for. Looking for a mystery? Let me tell you about a series you’ve never heard of. Want to learn a new language? I can show you where our languages section is, what online resources we have available, and any programming that may be connected.
Finally we have the fifth law: “the library is a living organism.” This means that our collections cannot be static. We have to weed out materials not being utilized and acquire materials that are needed. We need to renovate our spaces to accommodate the changing requirements of our neighborhoods.
Growing and evolving are crucial to the mission, and is part of what makes libraries indispensable. So while your favorite book was once available, we might end up getting rid of it. This does not speak to the quality of the book, but rather to making room for new things that may end up being someone else’s favorite.
Libraries are different from bookstores or classrooms. Other ethics we adhere to include protecting privacy and pushing for equity throughout our profession. We succeed and are beloved because we feel so strongly about our ethical duties. Without them, we are susceptible to becoming stagnant — closed off spaces with little to offer outside of handing out fancy cards to carry around in your wallet.
November Library Programs
Note: All Denver Public Library locations will be closed on Mon-
day, Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day and Thursday, Nov. 28 for Thanksgiving. Branches will close at 4 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving.
Park Hill Branch
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers. No storytime Nov. 28.
Toddler Storytimes | Fridays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
Ghostword Discussion with Crisosto Apache | Saturday, Nov. 2, 2:30-4 p.m. Join us for a Teentober discussion group for a workshop geared to teach you about voting rights (and responsibilities).
The Art of Surviving | Monday, Nov. 4, 2-3:30 p.m.
This peer group is for anyone postdiagnosis, whether in treatment or in remission. Family members and caregivers are welcome.
Creative Map Making | Wednesday, Nov. 5, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Teens are invited to create a fantasy map for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, a book that you’re writing, or just for fun. Every participant will create a map to take home for keeps.
Kids Game Club | Wednesday, Nov. 6 & Nov. 20, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Are you looking for something fun after school? Drop by to play games
Checking out books at the Ford-Warren Branch of Denver Public Library, circa 1964. Photo credit: Denver Public Library
Have
Librarian Rachel Reddick at the Park Hill Library-sponsored Banned Book Bingo at Fiction Brewery on Colfax in September.
Photo by Cara DeGette
in a fun, relaxed environment the first and third Wednesday of each month. Ideal for ages 5-12.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Romping Stomping Dinosaurs | Tuesday, Nov. 12, 10:30-11 a.m.
Little learners practice counting and comparing. Hold Spike, our baby stegosaurus. Compare your foot to big and small dinosaur tracks. Pack a dinosaur’s lunchbox and investigate dinosaur fossils.
Robust Allyship: An Anti-Racist Discussion | Saturday, Nov. 9, 2:30-4 p.m.
Leave your white guilt at home and hear from Joie Ha from CORE DEI and Asia Dorsey from Regenerate Change on what you can do to become a more effective ally, conspirator and collaborator.
TAB | Tuesdays, Nov. 12 & Nov. 26, 4:305:30 p.m.
Anyone 6th-12th grade are welcome to join and help with library programming and resources geared towards teens.
Writing Circle 2.0 | Thursday, Nov. 14, 1:303 p.m.
A supportive community of writers to help hone your skills and feel inspired. Teaching artist Andrea Asali will lead the Circle through how to write in multiple languages.
Talking to Children About Death | Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
An educational program on how to talk to children about death. Participants will learn how to support children in learning how they hold grief with a hands-on therapeutic art activity.
Death Café | Monday, Nov. 18, 2-3:30 p.m.
An international movement that invites people to gather, normalize conversations around death - to make the most of LIFE. Respect for all views is a priority.
Kids Book Celebration | Thursday, Nov. 21, 4-5 p.m.
We will explore a book or series on the third Thursday of every month
and do activities and crafts related to what we read. Parents of young children need to attend with their child. This month we will be having a Book Tasting — get a taste for great books in several genres. We will also have a “taste” of several snacks.
Voice of the Wood Chamber Players | Saturday, Nov. 23, 3-4 p.m.
Beethoven, Vivaldi, and a new quintet by our very own Mike Marecak.
Qi Gong | Wednesday, Nov. 27, 11 a.m.12:15 p.m.
Qi Gong includes slow, dance-like movements to improve breathing, reduce stress, and gently move the body. All levels and abilities are welcome.
Baby Art Crawl | Friday, Nov. 29, 11:30 a.m.-noon
Babies and caregivers will experience art, build relationships, and learn together, led by staff from the Clyfford Still Museum.
Pauline Robinson Branch
The Pauline Robinson Branch library is currently closed for renovations. While construction is underway, limited library services are being offered at Hiawatha Davis, Jr. Recreation Center at 3334 Holly St. Services are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Chromebooks are available for public use, as well as printing and copying.
• A cart of DVDs and free fiction books for all ages is available for browsing.
• Digital navigators are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Community Resource Navigators are available Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. by appointment. Call 720335-2847 to schedule an appointment.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Park Hill branch library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. The Pauline Robinson branch library is at 5575 E. 33rd Ave.
Bugl
A Real Pest
Adult locust borers (Megacyllene robiniae) are sometimes confused as wasps or hornets. They don’t sting, but these insects are serious pests. In the fall the females lay eggs in crevices of untreated locust trees. Once winter ends the larvae tunnel into the tree trunks, creating prime infection sites for a type of fungus that causes heart rot. Woodpeckers are natural enemies of the locust borer, as they can consume up to 30 percent of larvae. So peck away, Woody Woodpecker! This locust borer was photographed at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal north of Park Hill by Mark Silverstein.
A Dinner To remember
GPHC Readies To Distribute As Many As 500 Thanksgiving Meals
By Lori Midson Executive Director, GPHC, Inc.
And just like that, Thanksgiving is just a green bean casserole away. Thanksgiving, to be honest, has never been my favorite holiday (that would be Halloween). But this year may change my perspective. My parents, who divorced more than 35 years ago — and haven’t seen or spoken to one another in 25 years — are spending Thanksgiving and Christmas together, along with my son, my partner and me.
meals go to our food pantry families, Smith Elementary School students, low-income senior centers and other in-need individuals and families.
It takes multiple hands and bodies to make this happen. In the days and weeks leading up to our Thanksgiving giveaway, volunteers will donate more than 100 hours of service.
My parents are in their early eighties and widowed. While I’m not anticipating a reconciliation, I’m overjoyed that, in a landscape where kindness and forgiveness are often overshadowed by cruelty and revenge, my parents are looking forward to seeing one another — and, they both admitted, giving each other a huge hug. For this, I am beyond grateful. A sign of a more hopeful future, perhaps.
While my mom will undoubtedly spoil us with her unassailable cooking prowess, hundreds of individuals and families in and around Park Hill will turn to us to help them put food on the holiday table. With the help of dedicated volunteers, we distribute between 450-500 meal baskets every Thanksgiving. The
We rely heavily on local businesses to host food drives on our behalf. Individuals, churches, organizations and groups also provide financial contributions to cover our Thanksgiving expenses, of which there are many. With skyrocketing food and supply costs, those contributions make an enormous impact. We also request $25 supermarket gift cards, which we distribute in lieu of turkeys. (We simply don’t have the freezer capacity to accommodate 450 turkeys.)
Please check our website to see our list of Thanksgiving needs: greaterparkhill.org/food-programs/thanksgiving/. If you’d like to volunteer to help assemble meal boxes, visit our SignUpGenius link: signupgenius.com/go/10C094DACAA2FA 3FA7-52398486-2024#/. We need volunteers between Nov. 11 and Nov. 26.
Financial contributions and gift cards can be dropped off at our office (2823 Fairfax St.) Monday through Thursday, and you can also make
monetary contributions through our online giving form: greaterparkhill. org/food-programs/thanksgiving/. We’re anticipating a record high demand this year, and we’re incredibly appreciative of our Park Hill community for helping us nourish those in
GPHC Membership
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is a membership-based organization. The more members we have, the more persuasive our collective voice becomes. To become a GPHC member — or renew your membership — sign up at greaterparkhill.org/joinus/become-a-member/ or drop off a
Food Pantry Needs
check (and say hello) at our office, at 2823 Fairfax St. We look forward to serving you as a valued member of GPHC, listening to your ideas and input and working collaboratively on projects, programs and issues.
Thank you to our current members, donors and volunteers for your kindness, in-kind and financial contributions, involvement and dedication to GPHC. You are deeply appreciated.
A complete list of people and groups who volunteered and donated to Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. last month is at this link: greaterparkhill.org/october-24donors-and-volunteers/
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. food pantry visits have increased more than 110 percent over the last year. The shelves desperately need some replenishing (and a few volunteers). If you’d like to learn more about volunteering, please email director@greaterparkhill.org. And if you’re at the grocery store, please consider donating a few items from the list below.
• Canned fish, meat and Spam
• Cereal and oatmeal
• Canned tomatoes, tomato paste and tomato sauce
• Hearty soups and stews
• Canned ravioli and chili
• Canned beans (refried, kidney and pinto)
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Cartons/boxes of mashed potatoes
• Dried pasta
• Instant coffee and teabags
• Shelf-stable packaged meals
• Condiments
• Travel-size toiletries
We accept unexpired (please, please be mindful of expiration dates) food donations between 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Unexpired donations can be dropped off in the bins inside Mayfair Liquors at 13th and Krameria and the Park Hill Library at Montview and Dexter during their normal business hours. Food pantry needs are updated as needed at the GPHC website: greaterparkhill.org/food-programs/emergency-food-pantry/.
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organization that promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill, provides resources, information and advocacy, and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation.
GPHC world headquarters is 2823 Fairfax St. If you have an issue you’d like to discuss about the neighborhood, reach out to your board representative. Representatives can be contacted via the main office, at 303-388-0918 or info@ greaterparkhill.org.
If you are interested in volunteering or serving on a committee, contact GPHC Board Chair Shane Sutherland at chair@greaterparkhill.org.
Aging Gracefully
Plus, A Word About Prop. 129, On The Statewide Ballot
By Margot Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ For the GPHN
First a word about Proposition 129, which is on the November Colorado ballot.
Prop. 129 would establish a new certification for mid-level veterinary practitioners. I wanted to provide a very brief reason why this initiative is not good for Colorado pets. While on paper the thought of a veterinary equivalent to a physician’s assistant may sound good, this proposal is not appropriate for veterinary medicine at this time. The proposed plan is for a two-year master’s level program. Three of four semesters would be completed online and the fourth would be in-person clinicals, with no credentialing test.
Compared to the three-year, inperson, hands-on learning required for credentialed veterinary technicians, or the four years completed by veterinarians, this is too little time for a person who would be expected to evaluate patients, prescribe medications, and potentially do surgical procedures such as spays, neuters or dental procedures.
Anxiety, and Learning/memory changes.
Signs of pet dementia include:
• Wandering, signs of disorientation like getting stuck in familiar places or staring at the walls
• Confusion and anxiety
• Loss of house-training or litter box use changes from spatial or temporal decline
• Restlessness, pacing and repetitive behaviors like grooming or chewing – especially at night (aka Sundowner’s syndrome). With cats we notice more middle-of-the-night vocalization counterbalanced with increased sleeping during the day
• Loss of recognition of family members, places or commands
• Altered interactions with family members such as being clingier/ attention-seeking or reactive, new irrational fears of previously normal sights and sounds
We cannot reverse cognitive changes, but we can do much to engage and support our aging pets.
None of the national or local veterinary medical associations (AVMA, AAHA, FVMA and Colorado VMA) support this initiative, nor does the national association for veterinary state boards (AASVB). Learn more here: keepourpetssafe.com.
And now for our regular monthly Park Hill Vet column . . .
Aging is as inevitable as taxes. We can’t avoid it, nor can our pets. We’ve previously covered the expected changes like decreased hearing/ vision and arthritis, but as our pets live longer due to better veterinary care and nutrition, owners and veterinarians see more cognitive changes.
Cognitive dysfunction, aka dementia or senility, is the result of degeneration of the brain through normal aging, or more pronounced as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), which is analogous to the changes seen in Alzheimer’s.
For canine and feline patients, what we observe is much like what many of us Generation X and older humans see or have seen in our parents. As detailed on the website managed by the group Veterinary Partners, symptoms can be described by the acronym DISHALL: Disorientation; Abnormal Interactions, Sleep/wake cycle disturbances, House soiling, Activity changes,
A diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction — or CDS — is typically based on changes in behavior from previous normal activities and moods. For all senior pets, it’s recommended they be seen every six months due to their faster physiologic aging (six months of human time is roughly equivalent to three- to three-and-a-half years of aging for a senior dog or cat).
We cannot reverse cognitive changes, but we can do much to engage and support our aging pets with more one-on-one interactions and more play and entertainment. A regular schedule during the day can also help keep them more awake during the day so that they may sleep better through the night.
Your veterinarian can advise you on diets and supplements that may benefit your dog or cat – there’s less available for cats, but both can benefit from Omega3 supplementation. Calming medications can reduce anxiety or provide mild sedative effects to allow the pet to sleep through the night.
The month of November celebrates senior pets – celebrate yours with a visit to your veterinarian to get everything checked out from nose to tail.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit www.parkhillvet.com.
gA rdens And Verses November tips
• Plant spring bulbs.
• Sow native wildflower seed outdoors.
• Plant garlic bulbs outside.
• Plant cover crops such as winter rye in vegetable beds.
• Deep-water when needed, as temperatures allow.
• Harvest cool weather vegetables.
• Wrap trunks of young trees in burlap to protect against sun scald and the effects of sap rising and freezing in shifting temperatures.
Monthly garden tips are submitted by Park Hill Garden Walk organizer Kate Blanas. The Garden Walk, held every June, includes tours of some of the neighborhood’s most interesting and beautiful gardens. To suggest gardens or artists that could be featured, contact Paula Marinelli at paulagardenwalk@gmail.com.
Fall Haiku
Peaceful garden sleeps and dreams of springtime splendorQuiet November. — Anonymous
& cranberry
The challenges facing today’s retirees are unique. Higher inflation, skyrocketing healthcare costs, longer life expectancies, and complex Social Security rules all make much of the conventional retirement wisdom of the past obsolete. In this new era, it’s crucial that you take a fresh look at the challenges ahead and create a comprehensive plan to address them.
For 30 years, we’ve been working with people like you to address the challenges of the transition from accumulating their nest egg to using it to support their retirement lifestyle. Get in touch today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Moss
vine, circa 1865. L. Prang & Co., printmaker. Credit: Library of Congress
g re AT er pA rk hI ll r esources
Denver Police District 2
3921 Holly St., 2.Dist@denvergov. org, non-emergency number is 720- 913-1000. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
Denver Public Schools dpsk12.org
Check the website for resources and updates. Call the helpline at 720-423- 3054 for support in many languages.
Donations Resources
Check out our online list of organizations who accept donations — everything from clothes and furniture to bikes and baby essentials. greaterparkhill.org/ spreadingthe-love/
Faith Community greaterparkhill.org/faith
Greater Park Hill’s faith community is home to over 30 places of worship in just four square miles. Contact individual places of worship for information about their current state of operations.
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.
2823 Fairfax St., greaterparkhill. org, 303-388-0918
GPHC community meetings are
conducted on the first Thursday of the month, except for December and July. The next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at 2823 Fairfax St. Check greaterparkhill. org/join-us/ community-meetings/ for info.
Libraries
See the “At the Library” feature on page 14 for updates and resources offered by the Park Hill and Pauline Robinson branch libraries.
Northeast Park Hill Coalition
The Northeast Park Hill Coalition hosts its monthly meeting the second Thursdays of the month. Location varies. Check the group’s Facebook page @ Northeast Park Hill Coalition for updates.
Park Hill Community Bookstore
Established in 1971. Denver’s oldest nonprofit bookstore. Used and new books. 4620 E. 23rd Avenue. 303-355-8508. Members and volunteers get discounts and book credits. Check parkhillbookstore.org for current hours of operation.
Submit your neighborhood events and resources to editor@greaterparkhill.org Deadlines are the 15th of the month, for the following month’s issue.
Going Cold Turkey
By Mark Kuhl For the GPHN
What started several years ago as a “No-New-Clothes” movement has evolved to a “No-New-Anything movement.
Fast-fashion is detrimental to the environment because cheap clothing is normally worn only a few times before it’s discarded. We can dramatically reduce waste by purchasing high-quality clothing that will last longer and by mending damaged clothes.
Why stop at clothes? Marketers tempt us to buy cheap stuff on every website we visit and this daily marketing barrage (and wasted money) have some people going cold turkey, challenging themselves to buy nothing for as long as possible. The intention of this “no-buy” idea is to get us thinking about whether we really need all the stuff we buy.
Consider adjusting your pur-
chasing habits by thinking about whether you already have an object in your possession that will achieve the goal of the shiny new thing you’re looking at on Amazon. Think about how many times you will really use it and if infrequent, instead reach out to your friends and neighbors to borrow theirs.
Another idea to reduce consumption is avoid instant gratification with overnight delivery. Instead, create a list of all the things you want to buy then at the end of the month buy only the ones you really need.
Mark Kuhl is an environmental advocate who lives in Park Hill with his family. His handy tips and news about recycling household items appear every month in these pages. A directory of his past columns for recycling everything from paint to Styrofoam to shoes is at greaterparkhill.org/sustainability/recyclingdirectory/.
gphn c l A ss I f I eds
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
26 YR Licensed General Contractor in South Park Hill and Lead-Based Paint Abatement Firm. All Phases of Remodeling. Small jobs OK! Mold and Mildew Remediation. Power Spray Denver Dust, Off Exteriors. Call Mark-303-921-3161. pikerprojects@gmail.com – All Remodeling. usabatement@yahoo.com – LeadBased Paint
GUTTERS
Gutter Cleaning, repairs, and replacement. Gutter Cleaning prices start at $150 – House, Garage, Porches, and walks. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
MASONRY SERVICES
Masonry Services- Brick, Stone, Concrete repairs, restoration, tuckpointing, chimneys, retaining walls, city sidewalks; planter boxes. 303907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
PAINTING
Interior and exterior painting. Prep, power washing, professional. Owned and operated by Park Hill resident with over 20 years of experience. Free estimate. JR Painting 720-485-7207 or jpabz04@gmail.com
Painting: Interior, exterior, small jobs welcome; sheetrock repairs and texture. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@ gmail.com
ROOFING
Roofing: Repairs, Inspections, Flashings, Hail Damage, and reroofing licensed, bonded, and insured. Gutter replacement and cleaning. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail. com
TREE TRIMMING
Tree trimming and trash removal.
General yard work and clean up. Gutter cleaning. Please call 303-4290380
TUCKPOINTING
Over 25 years of experience. Fully insured. Mortar color and brick matching, broken brick replacement, cement chimney crown replacement. 12 years Chicago union experience. Mr. Chimney and Home Masonry Repair. Call Chuck Bahnsen 303948-7999
WINDOWS
Complete wood window restoration. Custom wood storm windows and screens. General painting, restoration and handyman services for your charming old home. Contact Matt 479-871-8140
Double-hung window RESTORATION includes replacing sash cords (ropes) and removal of excess paint on wood and metal plus lubrication for smooth opening and closing. 40year resident of PH. Contact David - 720-550-2786
To advertise in the Classifieds contact newspaper@greaterparkhill.org 720-287-0442 (voicemail). the deadline for submission is the 15th of every month
