State’s Plan For Colorado Boulevard Leaves Neighbors Vexed, Fuming
By Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
With Colfax currently gutted by construction from Broadway to Monaco, state transportation planners are moving forward with plans for a similar project on Colorado Boulevard.
Ryan Noles, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), described the planning underway during a March 5 meeting of Greater Park Hill Community (GPHC).
Colorado Boulevard, running north-to-south, currently runs three lanes in each direction.
It is one of the city’s busiest and most congested streets in Denver, with daily traffic volumes often exceeding 50,000 to 60,000-plus vehicles per day. It’s also a high-injury roadway, with a large number of dangerous and fatal crashes. Many stretches of the road — particularly north of Alameda Avenue — have narrow sidewalks or no sidewalks at all. Noles said officials estimate the population living along the corridor will increase by 50 percent by 2050. CDOT’s mandate, he said, is to improve safety on dangerous roads and also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Three options for Colorado Blvd.
As currently envisioned, the Colorado Boulevard BRT would stretch nearly 10 miles from Interstate
Got Mail
By Lisa Flavin | For
Return Of The Cormorant
From spring through July, Double-crested Cormorants are real crowd-pleasers at Duck Lake in City Park, just west of Park Hill. With their turquoise eyes and prehistoric vibes, these gangly black fishing birds build large, shallow nests out of twigs at the the island rookery. They keep adding to them using whatever material is handy, including vines, feathers, pieces of rope — even old combs, pocketknives and hairpins. Cormorants fly low across the pond, diving down occasionally to retrieve a fishy snack. When they want to dry off, they perch near the water with their wings half-spread.
For 25 years, mail carrier Scott Masse was a familiar sight in South Park Hill, covering a formidable route — yet never too busy to stop and say hello to everyone along the way. But family obligations have prompted his retirement – a difficult decision for someone who had become such an integral part of the neighborhood.
News of Masse’s retirement first reached his customers in a hand-written note that he sent out late last year, informing them that his last day would be Dec. 30.
“I will truly miss you. You all rock. You are more than customers, like family on a personal level … Thank you for being so kind to me.”
Changing personal circumstances, including his father’s
death last September, led to his decision. “This [is] something I have to do for my sanity,” he wrote.
518 addresses served
Born in Milford, Mass., Masse made his way to Denver in 1993 in his early twenties and he applied at the post office. “I always wanted to be a carrier,” he says. “I knew it would be my life career. I like being outside, getting exercise and meeting people.”
His route spanned Elm to Grape streets, from Colfax to Montview — a total of 518 delivery addresses. “It’s a long, heavy route,” he says, “and it will be put out for carriers to bid on. Once, I was transferred to a different route, but got it back after I bid on it. I wanted my customers back!”
While on his route, Masse greeted dog walkers, bicyclists and stroller-pushers by name. “When I was trained, I was told to look at names, not addresses. I always look at the name first; fewer mistakes that way because I associate the house with who lives there.”
Masse took pride in the level of service and care he provided his customers. He would put packages on back patios if they asked. People would text him if they were going out of town, and he made a point of checking on people if their mail hadn’t been taken in for a few days. He saw families grow up. “It was amazing how quickly they went from being babies to suddenly going to college.”
Only bitten once
Over the years, email, texting, and Amazon have changed the contents of Masse’s bag. He carried fewer letters and cards — and a lot more packages.
“When I first started, there were one or two packages a day, maybe a box of checks,” he says. “Later, I had to keep filling up my bag with packages, and it was a lot heavier.”
the GPHN
Mail Carrier Scott Masse, with friends.
PhotobyMarkSilverstein
The Day The Old Printer Died Thanks
To The Trust Press, We Are Still In The Ink Business
By Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
The morning of Feb. 19 was quite the morning. At 8:30 an email landed in my box, subject line “Closing Company.”
It was from the owner of Focus, the printer in Aurora that prints the newspaper you are reading. Or at least used to. The note was to inform us that “due to financial difficulties, we are no longer printing any more.”
This was six days before the March issue of the newspaper was scheduled to go to print. Suffice to say, six days to deadline is not when anyone wants to be looking for a new printer. I tried calling Focus. No one answered. I dialed again. Again. Again. Again. Finally, they picked up. Confirmed, oh so very sorry. They would not print the March Greater Park Hill News — or any other issue ever.
decided to buy a printer. The nonprofit Trust Press opened in late 2024. Its plant is at I-70 and Havana, just a few miles from Park Hill. Its mission? To help offset the costs of producing local, independent and community newspapers. Unfortunately, when they launched, the Trust Press was not an option for us, and here’s why: They didn’t have a piece of machinery — yes, one single part — that would let them print the physical size of our newspaper.
Even if you’ve never worked in journalism, surely you’ve seen old movies or TV that shows newspapers being printed. They roll off massive machines, transported along conveyer belts to get bundled and loaded up on vans for delivery. Sometimes a hard-boiled editor with a late-breaking scoop will come running in and holler, “Stop The Presses!”
As newspapers have shrunk and closed in recent years, these massive print machines have gone the way of the dinosaur. This is not good news for community newspapers like the Greater Park Hill News. It’s not like we can call up Kinko’s (or whatever they call themselves these days) and order 12,000-13,000 copies of a 20-page paper. By next week.
Up until three years ago, the Pueblo Chieftain printed our newspaper, along with many others. In 2023 the Chieftain suddenly closed its print plant, with little advance notice. (Notice a trend?) That move was the death knell for several community newspapers in Colorado, which had already been existing on the margins due to skyrocketing operating costs.
After that happened, a group of news leaders in Colorado got together and
WHO WE ARE
Editor: Cara De G ette
Ad Sales: Melissa Davis and Denise Fisher
Art Director: Kathy Conarro
Distribution: Sheldon Sidney Mikesell
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: 720-979-4385, editor@greaterparkhill.org
Denise Fisher: sales_denise@greaterparkhill.org Deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month
Some may wonder why, in this digital age, we want to continue publishing a newspaper at all.
The answer is easy.
The Greater Park Hill News is a shared community experience.
Whether it’s writing, delivering or reading the newspaper, everyone in the neighborhood — no matter age, race or economic status — has access and can participate. Our advertisers count on us to reach their target audiences. We provide a trusted alternative to digital media, and we cover local news and events that can’t be found elsewhere. We act as a watchdog on power when necessary.
We believe this shared community asset is critical to a healthy democracy. So, back to the morning of Feb. 19. Yes, I swore, and plenty loud, when I learned Focus was out of business. Would we have a March issue? I honestly didn’t know. I called the Trust Press, hoping beyond hope they had somehow acquired the one part they needed to print our newspaper. You can probably figure out the answer — since you are reading this right now. Our small-but-mighty newspaper team jumped into action. We made a few necessary adjustments for the switch to a new printer. The March issue ended up arriving on doorsteps a couple of days late. But behind the scenes, our volunteer bundlers, blockworkers, and even GPHC board members, stepped up like champs to get the paper out. Disaster averted. It’s a story that inspires even a hard-boiled editor to yell, “Start The Presses!” ✦
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.
April 2026 The Greater Park Hill News
Painting by Nathan Roberts, Woodwork by Tina Hoffer, Jewelry by Angela Lujan.
Our new press, the Trust Press, is a beaut.
Huh-huh-huh ha-ha
Recognize this guy? The Lineated Woodpecker was the inspiration for Woody Woodpecker, the screwball character created by Warner Bros. animator Walt Lantz in 1940. Like its brash cartoon counterpart, real-life Lineated Woodpeckers sport a jaunty red crest and engage in high-energy chopping, loudly chipping large holes in trees as they look for ants and grubs and beetles. But unlike the Woody Woodpecker trademark, “Huh-huh-huh ha-ha, Huh-huh-huh haha…”, the call of these birds sounds more like a high-pitched, maniacal laugh. This Lineated Woodpecker was photographed in Colombia by Mark Silverstein.
70 south to Hampden Avenue. That includes the two-plus miles that mark the western edge of Park Hill.
Noles said CDOT is considering three options for the Colorado Boulevard BRT:
• Center-running lane: Similar to what is being built on Colfax, this design would eliminate one lane of car/truck traffic in each direction. Buses would run down the middle of Colorado Boulevard. It’s the most expensive option, and it’s currently the one CDOT prefers.
• Side-running: This option would also eliminate one lane of car/truck traffic in each direction. Buses would run down each side of Colorado Boulevard. It’s less expensive than the center-running option, but with slower travel time.
• Mixed-flow: This option would have buses continue to share traffic lanes
with other vehicles, with improvements to the existing bus system. It’s the least expensive option, and also the one with the lowest expected ridership and reliability.
Noles did not include estimated costs in his presentation. However, depending on the option selected, the project could range from $200 million to $400 million or more.
In
the works since 2024
The Colfax Avenue BRT, which runs along the southern boundary of Park Hill, is currently under construction. The transit line, which has been the source of much controversy, is aligning buses to run up and down the center of the street, eliminating a lane of car and bus traffic in each direction. Its completion is currently scheduled for 2028.
Another Bus Rapid Transit is currently being built on Federal Boulevard west of downtown. Other BRT projects are
Free-For-All On Holly
being considered in the Denver metro area, including along the Speer/Leetsdale/Parker corridor, along Broadway/Lincoln and on Alameda Avenue. About 30 people attended CDOT’s presentation at the March 5 GPHC meeting.
Noles said the project has been in the planning stages for more than a year. The first “stakeholder” meeting was on Nov. 20, 2024, he said, and drew “nearly” 30 attendees. The timeline shows that planners are in the process of determining which options to pursue. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2030 — less than four years away.
Cramming it all in
Not surprisingly, audience response to the latest BRT plan was tepid, at best. Construction of the center-running BRT on Colfax is currently in full swing. Many Park Hill residents and business owners are reeling from the
McAuliffe Neighbors Endure A Year Of Hit-And-Runs, Traffic Jams, Angry Encounters Story and photo by Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
For Sylvia Aldena and dozens of her neighbors, living across the street and adjacent to McAuliffe International School this year has been stressful, maddening and nerve-rattling. McAuliffe, at 26th and Holly Street, has a school population of about 1,300, and many of its students come from other neighborhoods. Every school day, at about 9 a.m. and about 4 p.m., here come the cars, weaving through residential streets to the campus. Many of the parents and caregivers coming to pick and drop off their kids are tired, distracted, in a hurry, you name it.
The set-up does not make a good combo.
“The speed of cars and congestion make it difficult for cars to pass safely and/or stop for students to unload and navigate a crowded and dangerous street,” Aldena wrote to school administrators back in November. “Angry confrontations between drivers have been witnessed. We have also witnessed accidents, hit-and-runs, as well as cars being totaled.”
She added that she supports McAuliffe, and Denver Public Schools, “100 percent.”
Aldena lives on Holly Street across from the school. Her own
negative impacts — including spillover traffic clogging residential side streets. Several in attendance suggested CDOT would do better to wait and learn from the Colfax project. Denver is still decidedly a love-your-car city. The jury is out whether a large population of people will suddenly jump on the No. 40 to save just a few extra minutes of travel time.
Others noted that overall RTD bus ridership nosedived by nearly 50 percent between 2019 and 2022. The transit district continues to struggle with operator shortages, safety concerns and a perceived leadership vacuum. One woman suggested that CDOT should consider future travel trends — including smaller, electric vehicles — before proceeding with such an expensive, and disruptive project.
Maria Flora, a GPHC board member, noted that businesses and even homes along many sections along Colorado Boulevard are already built right up to the street. She wondered where CDOT will be able to cram additional bus stations, sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
“There’s no space for that,” Flora said. “There’s not room to walk.”
Where will 10,000 cars go?
GPHC board chair Shane Sutherland wondered where an estimated 10,000 cars would end up if two lanes are eliminated on Colorado Boulevard. Sutherland answered his own question: “I just don’t see where, except on the side streets.”
Said Park Hillian Woody Garnsey: “Why not wait for the Colfax BRT to be completed to see how it works, for empirical data to see what will happen on Colfax? Will the Colfax BRT actually function to meet its goals of getting people out of cars and into buses?”
CDOT officials had scheduled another public meeting for April 8 to discuss the Colorado Boulevard BRT. However, in late March, the April meeting was inexplicably cancelled. At press time CDOT officials indicated the public meeting will now be held sometime in May. ✦
A conceptual look at what Colorado Boulevard at 6th Avenue could look like with a side-running BRT. Credit: Colorado Department of Transportation
Another school day, another road rage.
Cars thread their way down Holly Street in front of McAuliffe at school pick-up time. Neighbor Sylvia Aldena puts neon orange cones against her parked cars to try to protect them from being hit.
Colorado BRT, Continued from page 1
The perfect day for a mail carrier? About 65 degrees. “I couldn’t do this job in Massachusetts,” Masse says. “It’s either too hot or too cold or too humid. I’d rather it be too cold than too hot, though, since you can always add clothing. But overall I’d rather deliver mail in the summer.” He also has some suggestions for how people can make a mail carrier’s job easier.
“It depends on the carrier, but my pet peeve is when the mail box is blocked, which happens during the holidays with Christmas wreaths or Halloween decorations. Other things, such as cars or trash bins, sometimes block curbside boxes. Also not shoveling, and expecting us to walk on ice on porches or driveways.”
An animal lover with several rescue cats, Masse also made friends with many dogs on the route. He was only bitten once, early in his career, by a mutt who was tied to the porch. (“He got me in the leg.”) In recent years there were only three dogs that he didn’t trust, but he still claims to love them all. He understands that the supposed animosity from canines isn’t about him at all. “It’s the uniform,” he says. “They see us every day and feel threatened.”
“He spoiled us all”
It wasn’t the threat of neighborhood pooches, or the increasing challenges of postal work in an era of doing more with less, that persuaded Masse to hang up his bag. The demands of dealing with his father’s estate and other personal matters led him to what he describes as a “huge sad decision.”
On his last day, a longtime customer invited Masse over for a snack. When he arrived, a surprise party was waiting for him, with nearly 100 people in attendance.
“He spoiled us all, always watching out and taking care of our mail when we were on vacation,” says party organizer, Anita Wagner. “We even exchanged phone numbers; it was very unusual.”
Masse has plans for retirement.
“I want to join a bowling league again, and I also square dance,” he says. “I am at the highest level and have traveled the country competing. My goal is to dance in every state, and I’m more than halfway there.” ✦
parked cars have been sideswiped nine times. “One man was threatening and mad, and he hit me,” she said. “I just think when people get in cars they’re not the same; they just get real angry.”
Other neighbors’ cars have also gotten bashed while parked on the street in front of their homes. Now Aldena sets tall neon-orange warning posts against her cars to better protect them from being hit by passing traffic.
School administrators responded by saying the problem was the city’s to solve, not theirs.
So Aldena tried to enlist the help of the city’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI). Some 90 neighbors signed petitions asking for a solution. Would speed bumps be possible? Flashing lights? Street signs? Could they make Holly a one-way street in front of the school? Could they install bollards to protect the
bike lanes? How about a cop with a radar gun? Anything at all?
“They were all very nice,” she said. “They knew it was a high-need [situation] but they said there’s nothing they could do about it. I got the feeling that the city has greater needs than in Park Hill.”
Finally, Aldena reached out to Councilman Darrell Watson, who represents the area. He and his chief aide, Bonnie Guillen, jumped into action. With the help of Andrea Garcia, the head of the Denver Public Schools crossing guard program, they got approval to hire two DPS crossing guards to help monitor the traffic — and the pedestrian safety of the students — at the school.
Of course, summer break is only a month away. Aldena and her neighbors hope for better luck, in the next school year. ✦
Neighbors gathered to give Scott Masse a big sendoff.
STEAM Summer Camps
Troubled By Mosaic Plan
Lastly, the timing of the change from senior housing to transitional housing, shortly after the adjacent St. Elizabeth’s School (K-8) plans to close, is a little suspicious. It raises questions for many families who feel this type of shift should have involved more open discussion with the community. I would welcome more transparency from city leaders, the developer, and Mosaic representatives about the decision-making process and the plans for ensuring the campus remains safe and welcoming for the many families and students who use it every day. Thank you again for your reporting and for continuing to cover this issue.
— Cory Knight, Park Hill
My name is Cory Knight, and I live in Park Hill near 16th and Oneida. Thank you for covering the developments at the Mosaic campus last month. I wanted to reach out because I’m deeply concerned about the recent change in plans for the housing project there.
From your article, it appears the project that was originally planned as senior housing is now being developed as housing for individuals transitioning out of homelessness. If I’m understanding correctly, it is the same developer who was responsible for the recently completed buildings on the northeast side of the campus. However, those appear to be traditional affordable housing units, which I strongly support. In fact, our family has really enjoyed seeing new families move into the Mosaic area and become part of the neighborhood. What concerns me is the apparent lack of communication with the surrounding community regarding this significant change in the purpose of the new building. Housing for individuals exiting homelessness is a very different model than senior housing, and it raises legitimate questions for nearby residents, particularly those of us with children who spend time on the campus every day.
Our family frequently walks through Mosaic, and our daughter walks through the campus to attend school at Denver School for the Arts. Campus security has already had to respond at times to individuals experiencing mental health crises confronting or yelling at students. Because of this, many families are understandably worried about safety if additional homeless-transitional housing is placed directly on campus. I want to be clear that I believe people experiencing homelessness deserve support, dignity, and opportunities to rebuild their lives. At the same time, thoughtful planning, transparency, and community input are critical when placing this type of housing in a location that is heavily used by children and students.
There are several questions that many neighbors are asking:
• Will there be on-site services and security associated with the housing?
• What screening or background checks will be conducted for residents?
• What policies will exist regarding guests or visitors?
How will the campus ensure the safety of nearby students, families, and residents?
Our part of Denver already appears to be hosting a significant share of transitional housing developments. Many neighbors feel the responsibility for addressing homelessness should be shared more evenly across the city, rather than concentrated in northeast Denver.
Calling All Dead Heads
You’re invited to join City Park
Adopt-a-Flowerbed, a volunteer group that gardens in City Park. We nurture roses, lilacs, native plants and many other perennials. Gardening experience is not required. We’re looking for folks to garden a couple hours a week as their schedules allow. It’s a great way to participate in the community and make a difference. There are currently seven gardening groups: Dirty Knuckles, Rock Stars, Flower Power, In the Weeds, Root Group, Dead Heads, and Benedict Rose Gardeners. Each has a leader who sends emails about what’s happening in the park and info on tending to flowers, picnics, information sessions from the horticulturalists, pruning, weeding, getting rid of those pesky Japanese beetles, etc.
As a volunteer, you can work in a group that meets at a specific time and tend to one of the 30 rose beds in the rose gardens west of the museum. Some just do roses; some just do a flower bed. Some garden with a group at a set time, others garden on their own schedule.
The program is sponsored by Greater Park Hill Community and City Park Friends and Neighbors. Coordinators who have nurtured this project for over five years are Georgia Garnsey, Maria Flora, and Jackie June. Over 50 volunteer gardeners make it all possible.
If you are interested in joining, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Jackie June via email at jjdenco5008@gmail.com.
A rose bed kick-off event is scheduled for April 9 at 10 a.m. just west of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with rosarian Peg Williams. Please join us, and happy springtime! — Sally Kennedy, Park Hill
We love your letters, and we 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.
Triangolo Hall, one of two dorms slated for housing.
The President’s War
What, Exactly, Is The
Reason For Trump’s
By Penfield W. Tate III | For the GPHN
“The Congress shall have the power . . . To Declare War . . . and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water. To raise and support armies. . .” — U. S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 8.
This clear delineation of power in the Constitution, illuminating the doctrine of separation of powers upon which this nation was founded, begins with outlining these powers vested in Congress.
The founders intentionally wanted to make sure no executive could unilaterally start a war. Our nation’s Constitution was framed as a repudiation of the monarchy, from which the Founders and many others fled, led by a king operating without restraint.
No other branch of government — not even the President in the Executive Branch — was vested with this authority. Until it just illegally takes it. The War Powers Resolution (WPR), enacted in 1973, was created to reinforce this principle. Under the WPR, no president may introduce U.S. forces into conflict unless Congress has declared war, Congress has provided specific statutory authorization — or a national emergency occurs due to an attack on the U.S. Congress has to be notified within 48 hours of troop deployment, and the troops must be withdrawn within 60 to 90 days. Notifying Congress does not include seeing the war unfold on TV or social media, or hearing about it on the radio.
Unrelenting,
Let’s talk now about Iran.
Unpopular Attacks on Iran?
Congress has not declared war on Iran. Congress has not given specific authority for a war against Iran. And Iran has not attacked the United States.
No one disputes this is a war
The last time Congress clearly declared war was in response to 9/11, when Congress authorized President George W. Bush to use force against those who had attacked the U.S. This was clearly consistent with the Constitution and the WPR.
But it is fair to acknowledge that the debate over the authority to go to war has been contested between the executive and legislative branches for many years. Past presidents have, like Trump, failed to comply with the Declare War Clause or the WPR.
To wit: President Truman in Korea, President Reagan in Libya, Grenada and Lebanon, President George H.W. Bush in Panama and President Obama in Libya.
Still, there are particularly good reasons for the constitutional provision and the enabling legislation.
Beginning early last month, the U.S. has been involved in an unrelenting attack on Iran, aided by Israeli forces. No one disputes that this is a war. Dead civilians in Iran, including young girls in a school murdered by U.S. missiles, make clear this is a war. Dead U.S soldiers, it’s war. No one disputes
HAKALA
Family Dentistry
that the WPR has not been followed. No one disputes that the U.S. has not been under direct attack. We the people must confront disturbing political and policy questions. This president has gone to war simply because the Republican majority in Congress is too compliant to prevent it. By avoiding direct responsibility, this majority is passively supporting the aims of a war that is massively unpopular with the American people. Without a formal declaration or compliance with the law, American soldiers have lost their lives. Iranian civilians have died. More are going to die. The American people clearly have a problem with this. And they should.
Affordability is no hoax
This war rages in a current political context about how to address the skyrocketing cost of living. Trump dismisses reality again, calling rising prices an “affordability hoax” being pushed by Democrats.
When does a hoax stop being a hoax? Maybe when I purchased my gas at Costco and paid $4 a gallon. Didn’t seem like a hoax to me. It wasn’t a hoax when I went to the supermarket either. They expected real money — a lot more money than usual — for the groceries I bought.
Affordability is not a hoax, and Trump’s war is making it worse. More disturbing and confusing is hearing that the president is surprised the
price of gas rose so much, so quickly. Even while he promises that prices will go down very low, very soon and is panicking to get other countries to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil tankers.
The press and we cannot make sense of the rationale for the war. We heard so many stories and spins. Iran was close to having nuclear possibility, or not, because we were told weeks ago that we had destroyed their nuclear capability. Is this all a distraction to stop people from talking about the Epstein files? Or not. With so many explanations, you are inclined to think one might be true — or all are false. This will not end soon or well. The most frightening possibility is that innocent people will be killed for no good reason. Stay safe.
Penfield W. Tate III is an attorney, a frequent panelist on PBS 12 ‘s Colorado Inside Out and a leader of SOS Denver’s successful fight to make the former Park Hill Golf Course open space. He represented Park Hill in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1997 to 2000, and in the State Senate from 2001 to February 2003, when he stepped down to run for Mayor of Denver. He is also a former candidate for the Denver City Council. Penfield and his wife Paulette live in the neighborhood.
100 Ways To Love Your Planet
Step Up Your Efforts Toward A Smaller Footprint This Earth Day
By Tracey MacDermott | For the GPHN
It has been 56 years since the first celebration of Earth Day. Our planet is still in desperate need for we humans to act.
Organizations and citizens from around the globe will focus this Earth Day — April 22 — on many issues such as reducing plastics, tree plantings, climate education, regenerative agriculture and sustainable fashion. Hopefully you have already been working on ways to reduce your impact not just for one day but every day. Earth-
governor for how to respond.
As the Colorado Sun recently detailed, the state measures its water supplies using a calendar that runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. The first four months of the 2026-27 water year are the warmest in 131 years. The forecast for spring does not provide hope for relief from this drought.
Colorado’s agricultural community is facing a concerning growing season. In just one example highlighted in
food supply and food security will be severely threatened. U.N. officials also note that projections of future global yields of corn and wheat indicate a significant decline. They tie these declines to increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Purchasing food from local farmers is a great way to help combat climate change. It supports the local economy, and cuts down on the heavy impacts of transporting fresh food from elsewhere. If the drought continues,
ga-fires. Wildfires impact air quality not just where they burn but for a radius of thousands of miles. To reduce wildfire risks, Xcel Energy warned it would shut off power in areas where strong winds were expected. Will this become our new normal?
Increasing concerns over drought, heat, fire and declining water supply do not leave us with a lot of hope during April — when we celebrate Mother Earth. However, I do believe that when we know better, we do bet
and talk with your family,
Power To The Planet
Ways To Celebrate Earth Day All Month In Park Hill
Staff Report | For the GPHN
The global theme for Earth Day this year is “Our Power, Our Planet.”
It’s a call to action for people to use their collective power to push for environmental protection, focusing on actions like grassroots organizing for reforestation, clean water and air.
It’s also a great time to clean up the neighborhood. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. has designated the entire month of April as Earth Month, providing opportunities to pitch in and help clean up the alleys, streets and public areas across the neighborhood. (Geographic boundaries are set roughly between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road (south to north), and Colorado Boulevard and Quebec Street (west to east).
• Park Hill’s designated ALLEY cleanup day is Saturday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Park Hill’s designated STREET cleanup day is Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For both dates, meet at the GPHC office at 2823 Fairfax St. at 9:30 a.m. to pick up buckets, trash-grabber tools and vests. (Please bring your own gloves and wear bright colors.) Learn more and sign up at tinyurl.com/ PHEarthDay. You are also welcome to text/call JacquiO Shumway at 303-725-7482 with any questions. Note: If you can’t make those exact dates, please plan to set aside time during April to beautify your block or area.
• City Large-Item Pick-Ups days are are April 6 and April 9 (depending on where you live in the neighborhood). Details for what the city will pick up (think large branches, bags of debris) can be found via denvergov.org. Let your neighbors know and help each other beautify your alley.
What’s Up With Waste No More Universal
Recycling Program Closer To Reality
By Mark Kuhl | For the GPHN
Denver voters overwhelmingly passed a recycling ballot initiative in 2022 called Waste No More. The proposal was to dramatically expand recycling and composting across the city by requiring large trash generators (construction sites, multi-unit buildings, businesses and large public events) to participate in recycling and composting.
It took a few years for the city to establish requirements for the program, including drafting a required ordinance that was approved by City Council last Sept. 15.
The next step for this Universal Recycling and Composting Ordinance is to nail down rules and regulations and begin enforcement on Sept. 1. The initial enforcement strategy will be an “education-first” compliance approach, in which city officials will help license holders get on track to divert tons of recoverable resources from the landfill.
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/recycling-directory.
Leader in 2017. She chairs the Sustainability
Celebrating Easter
Churches across the neighborhood are readying for Easter on Sunday, April 5. Greater Park Hill’s faith community, housed in more than 30 places of worship in just four square miles, is as diverse and robust as the neighborhood itself. The Greater Park Hill News lists neighborhood places of worship at greaterparkhill.org/faith. Contact individual places of worship for information about their current state of operations, including upcoming services and gatherings.
Jobs For People 50-Plus
Are you over 50 and looking for a job? Several Colorado workforce groups are hosting a Job & Volunteer Fair on April 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Apex Community Recreation Center in Arvada. The fair is open to people who are looking for employment, interested in changing careers or exploring new job possibilities. Career education classes are also being held on several dates in April for older workers, including resume and job interview workshops
an networking. To learn more and to register, email MichelleS@ApexPRD.org or call 303-467-7197. The Apex Recreation Center is at 6842 Wadsworth Blvd in Arvada.
Messiah Plant Sale May 23
For the second year, and just in time for the growing season, Messiah Community Church is holding a big plant sale. This year’s sale will be Saturday May 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Plants will include
veggie starters, flowers, perennials and native grasses, including many low-water options. All profits will be donated to Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. for its food programs. Messiah Community Church is at 1750 Colorado Blvd., with plenty of parking in the lot accessible through the alley to the east.
Planning Park Hill
What do you want to happen in the north area of Park Hill over the next 20 years? Just as important is, what do you want not to happen?
Denver’s Planning Department is in the midst of a formal process for a plan to encompass North Park Hill, Northeast Park Hill, Clayton, Cole and Skyland — all of the neighborhoods that are close to the new Park Hill Park at 35th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The plan will be used to guide decisions that Denver will make for the area in the next two decades or more
The city has set up a website, at tinyurl.com/ NearNortheastPlan, where residents can learn more and take a survey Among the questions: What do you like most about your neighborhood? What are your concerns, and what type of im -
TREASURE HUNT | THANE BENSON ]
Thane Benson is an award-winning Park Hill-based comic book writer, artist and game designer. This regular feature, Treasure Hunt, highlights different neighborhood architectural landmarks every month. Check out some of Benson’s other projects at thanebenson.com or on social media @thanebenson.
Sculptor Christopher Yancey, with one of his friends at a past festival. File photo by Cara DeGette
provements do you want to see? People can also apply to serve on an advisory committee that will meet regularly throughout the process and oversee the planning efforts.
Park Hill Art Fest June 6-7
The 13th Annual Park Hill Art Festival is set for Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7. The spring juried fine art and fine craft show will showcase 100 professional artists from Colorado and beyond. Artists’ work ranges from paintings to fine jewelry, woodwork to sculptures, textiles to pho tography. Food trucks and gourmet vendors will also participate.
The Art Fest will be on the grounds of the Park Hill Masonic Lodge, on Montview Boulevard between Dahlia and Eudora streets, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no entry charge. Numerous new and returning artists will be showing their work at the festival. Contemporary watercolor artist Peter Freischlag will be there for the first time in several years. (Freischlag is also a world-class tennis player and out-of-state and coun try tournaments have conflicted with past festival dates.) Check out parkhillartfestival.com for more on the festival and participating artists.
Playing Through To The End
Between 2015-2020, author Steve Bialostok hung out with a with a remarkable group of older Black men who gathered nightly to play dominoes at the Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center. Bialostok, a linguistic anthropologist and Park Hill resident, has written a book about his experience, Playing to the End: Elder Black Men, Placemaking, and Dominoes in Denver (University of Nebraska Press).
The book centers on several men who live—or once lived—near the recreation center, at 33rd and Holly Street. Some had been playing dominoes there since the 1960s, when the center was still known as Skyland. Theirs is, in many ways, a classic Park Hill story, set against the backdrop of a historically Black neighborhood experiencing gentrification.
“The men’s nightly meetings [were] far more than
ory, and offered a joyful counterforce to the pressures of displacement and neighborhood change.”
Bialostok will discuss his book during a gathering and book signing event on April 13 at 6 p.m. at the Tattered Cover Bookstore, 2526 E. Colfax Ave. Keith Bell, director of recreation for the City and County of Denver, will join Bialostok for the conversation. Everyone is welcome. ✦
It’s All Happening This Summer
Save These Dates
Park Hill Garden Walk
See story on the page 17 with details about the June 7 Park Hill Garden Walk.
Park Hill Yard Sale
The 14th Annual Park Hill Yard Sale is Saturday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The coordinated garage/yard sale includes dozens of Park Hillians who hold garage and yard sales all over the neighborhood on the same day. (Boundaries include East Colfax Avenue to Smith Road and Colorado Boulevard to Quebec Street.) Check out next month’s issue for registration details and where to access a the map of participating sellers.
4th of July Parade
The annual Park Hill Parade is on the 4th of July, beginning at 2 p.m. Registration is open if you would like to sign up your group to march in the parade: parkhillparade.com
Home Tour & Street Fair
The Park Hill Home Tour and Street Fair is Sunday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The daylong event includes a ticketed tour of numerous homes in the neighborhood, plus a free street fair with with local vendors, live entertainment, kids activities, a sustainability zone, food trucks and a wine & beer tent. parkhillhometour.org Check these pages in months to come for additional information about all these events sponsored by Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.
Flying High
Strong Showing For Northfield Nighthawks And East Angels At State Playoffs
The East Angels and the Northfield Nighthawks made it to the girls 6A state basketball championship playoffs last month, raising the distinct possibility that the two Denver Public Schools teams could meet in the championship final.
That possibility grew stronger as No. 5-seed Northfield dominated its semi-final on March 12, taking down the No. 1-seeded Cherokee Trail, 6757. But No. 6-seed East was unable to hold up its end of the Final Four bargain, dropping the nightcap semifinal 52-33 against a seventh-seeded Highlands Ranch team that seemingly could not miss from beyond the 3-point arc.
Hard-battling East did get 20 points and five rebounds from its 6-foot 3-inch star senior forward, Mairead Hearty, who is headed this fall to play
basketball for San Diego State University. But whenever East seemed to make a run, Highlands Ranch would hit another three-pointer, sucking the momentum from East’s efforts. Highlands Ranch shot 40 percent from the 3-point range, while East was only one for eight from long distance.
So, on March 14, it was the sharp-shooting Falcons of Highlands Ranch against the run-and-gun Northfield Nighthawks for the 6A state title at the Denver Coliseum.
Northfield Head Coach Sydney Price knew the Falcons’ three-point shooting would be a problem.
“Really the plan was to not let them shoot threes, not get sucked in on the penetration and know where the shooters are at all times,” Price told the Greater Park Hill News. “But they move so fast. They are a disciplined
team, and you can get caught real quick.”
And so it proved, as Northfield fell behind at half-time 25-18. But slowly, the resolute Nighthawks clawed their way back into the game with junior twin sisters London and Paris Taylor and junior guard Madison Bethel repeatedly driving strong to the basket, successfully drawing fouls. With deafening support from Northfield’s faithful fans, and a tenacious full-court defense, the Nighthawks outscored the Falcons 22-18 in the final quarter and even pulled within one point with less than a minute to play. Two Highlands Ranch free throws with six seconds left extended the Falcon lead to three-points, meaning a Northfield 3-point shot at the buzzer would have tied the game.
But a last-second Northfield pass sailed over the end line, and Highlands Ranch and its head coach Caryn Jarocki were able to celebrate their eighth state title together. Against Northfield, Highlands Ranch was again excellent from three-point range, shooting 7 for 20, while Northfield made none of its nine 3-point shots. London Taylor led the Nighthawks with 18 points on the board.
Despite the loss, Price expressed pride in Northfield’s season and her players. “I’m super proud of the girls,” she said in a post-game interview. “They fought hard. They played together. They had a great season. They have no reason to hang their heads. They put in the work. They wanted it really bad, so I know they are hurt a little bit. But we will be back.” ✦
Story and photos by Reid Neureiter | For the GPHN
In left and middle photos, East senior star forward Mairead Hearty and junior guard Grace Hall versus Highlands Ranch in the state semifinals on March 12. At right, Northfield High School fans at the Colorado 6A State girls basketball championship.
At left, Northfield High junior point guard #11 London Taylor drives to the basket in the Colorado 6A State girls basketball championship versus Highlands Ranch on March 14. Right, freshman Zariya Jennings (#23) defends against Highlands Ranch.
Joy And Frustration
Lessons Learned From The East Area Plan Can Help Neighbors To The North
By Gary Martyn | For the GPHN
I dropped in at the Greater Park Hill Community’s meeting in February to hear an update on the changes planned for the Mosaic Campus. The campus, in southeast Park Hill, is near and dear to me, and I like to keep current on what’s going on there.
A spokeswoman from Archway Communities, which lovingly restored four of the dormitories on campus, provided a comprehensive overview of the changes planned for the two remaining dorms, which have sat empty since Denver Housing Authority bought them three years ago.
Personally, I think Archway has done an amazing job with the four buildings, and I look forward to the rehab of two other old buildings. It’s fantastic that they not only are being preserved but also are finding new life as something the community desperately needs. The city as a whole benefits from repurposing our old buildings.
East Area redux
Before the Archway presentation, Abner Ramos Salcedo, of Denver Community Planning and Development, presented an overview of the process for the city’s Near Northeast Area Plan. This is a five-neighborhood
specific plan to guide development for the next 20 years. The neighborhoods include Northeast Park Hill, North Park Hill, Skyland, Cole and Clayton. This interested as well. I live in the south part of Park Hil,l and I, along with many others, spent a lot of time on another city-sponsored planning effort — the East Area Plan. After a very prolonged process, the Denver City Council approved that planin late 2020. It plan also serves as a 20-year guide, but for development in South Park Hill, Hale, Montclair and East Colfax.
The East Area Plan got off to a rough start, as the city failed to provide any meaningful notice to the residents who actually live in the area. A steering committee had been assigned and had been meeting for quite some time before the community was able to be involved. Some of the items the steering committee had approved were not acceptable to the community at large. The meetings became combative, and the online chatter was unpleasant.
My takeaway was that the city’s planning department solicits input from the public, but they really don’t want to deviate much from their own ideas. Public support is vital, though, so they gently steer the public to their
desired outcomes. At the beginning, the planners rolled out boiler-plate planner-speak concepts: density, transit and walkability. Not that there is anything at all wrong with these, but it’s the context and feasibility that matter.
Did the city learn?
With regard to the Near Northeast Area Plan, I was curious to see how — or if — the planning process has evolved.
I asked Mr. Salcedo how the city was informing area residents. He said that in late April or May — this month and next — the city will saturate the area with notices sent to all homes and businesses and will place yard signs where appropriate. I thought to myself, Hooray! The city has learned something about actually notifying residents.
But then Mr. Salcedo went on to say that an advisory committee would be also set up, with applications due at the end of February.
Should the advisory board be in place before residents are notified? This gives the appearance of a board selected to back the city planning department — not the neighborhood. With the East Area Plan, this avoidable error by the city certainly made
for some hostile interactions between the steering committee and the community.
Use your imagination
I hope my friends in Northeast Park Hill and North Park Hill will robustly participate in this process, even though it can be tiresome, maddening and frustrating.
My advice is this: You don’t have to accept what the city planners suggest. Use your own expertise, your experience, your imagination to help shape the plan. You will assuredly meet great people from Skyland, Cole, and Clayton that have a similar interest in building a great community plan, as well as meeting more of your neighbors.
These plans are important, and it is one of the few ways to shape the growth our neighborhood will be experiencing.
Remember, community does have a voice.
Gary Martyn was born and raised in Park Hill. It is still his neighborhood. Check out the brief Planning Park Hill page 11 for details on how to get involved with the city’s Near Northeast Area Plan.
Gary Martyn, at Campus Mosaic with Liam in May, 2024. At right, Triangolo Hall, empty for three years, will be renovated by Archway Communities and leased to people exiting homelessness. Photos by Cara DeGette
Last year’s ribbon cutting by the mayor and other VIPs at Park Hill Park. At right, Parks and Recreation Director Jolon Clark. The acquisition of the old golf course, at 35th and Colorado Boulevard, has spurred planning efforts for the surrounding neighborhoods.
A Tale of Two Buildings
Buoyant With Happiness Over New Front Desk, Water Fountain, Expansion And Turning 30
By Tara Bannon Williamson | Park Hill Branch Librarian and Leslie Williams | Pauline Robinson Branch Librarian
The Park Hill Branch Library, at 4705 Montview Blvd., was built in 1920 and recently underwent a few improvements. As promised, on Friday March 6, this historic Carnegie building reopened after a quick threeweek closure. A lot of hard work went into improving the space and meeting our reopening goal.
Thanks in part to the generosity of Denver voters, this project was partially funded by Strong Library, Strong Denver, supported by the Denver Public Library Fund. If it has been a while since you’ve been by, here’s what you can expect:
• Ergonomically improved main desk modernized to improve staff safety
• New water bottle filler/water fountain
• Upgraded fire alarms and detectors
• New entryway carpet
• New break room flooring
• Updated lighting
• New window coverings in the Children’s Area
• Expanded Hold Shelf area
Despite a snowy reopening day, we had a hopping morning and the list we use to satisfy material requests
April Library Programs
PARK HILL BRANCH
Baby Storytime | Thursdays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes, and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers.
Toddler Storytime | Fridays, 10:15-10:45 a.m
Stories, songs, rhymes, and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
End-of-Life Choices: Decision-Making for Death | April 4, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Explore concepts and options available to you including death doulas, end-of-life options and legacy projects so your death can reflect your values in life.
Laughter Yoga | Wednesday, April 8, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Enjoy playful laughter exercises interspersed with gentle breathing and stretching. You’ll strengthen the immune system, increase tolerance to pain and combat the negative effects of stress. Simple, fun and accessible to people of all fitness levels.
Puzzle and Game Swap | Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m.-noon Same old games and puzzles
placed by customers had over 400 items that we excitedly shared with library card holders across the city. Park Hill Library VIP and Poet Sally Ortiz cut the ribbon on our brand-new beautiful water fountain and bottle filler the morning of our reopening, christening this highly-anticipated new amenity. We celebrated with sparkling apple juice and are swimming in happiness! We’re feeling buoyant about all the new improvements to the building and look forward to savoring every drop! Say bon voyage to thirst!
The most noticeable improvement is that staff are better able to greet you as you enter the building. We hope you will come by soon to see how this historic space continues to adjust to the needs of our growing community. What will never change is that the library is here for you with materials, spaces and experiences.
Pauline Robinson
The Pauline Robinson Branch Library, at 5575 E. 33rd Ave, opened on April 8, 1996. It will celebrate its 30th anniversary this month.
We couldn’t be more excited to be in the same neighborhood as the Park Hill branch. As we reach this milestone, we reflect on our accomplishments, including having one of the longest-running book clubs in the city
got you down? Bring a puzzle or game, take a puzzle or game. Please bring complete puzzles and board games only — no one likes missing pieces.
Death Café | Monday, April 13, 2-3:30 p.m., AGES 18+
Death Café is an international movement that invites people to gather and normalize conversations around death — to make the most of LIFE. Respect for all views is a priority.
Family Book Celebration | Thursday, April 16, 4-5 p.m
A monthly book celebration for the whole family. Read at home then join us to participate in fun activities. In April, we encourage you to read books about observing nature and create a nature journal at our program.
Spring Book Buzz and No Strings Attached Book
Chat | Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Prior to our book chat this month, there will be a presentation about new and forthcoming books available this spring. Also, take home a free book! Level Up, Tweens | Tuesday,
April 21, 4:30-5:30 p.m
Try fun challenges and build mini projects with friends. Learn teamwork, leadership, and problem solving while having a great time.
PAULINE ROBINSON BRANCH
Toddler Storytime | Tuesdays, 10:30-11 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their grown-ups.
Drop-In Tech Help | Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m.
Need help navigating the internet, email, or social networks like Facebook? Have questions about your phone or tablet? Want to know how to access eBooks? Drop by to get your questions answered and learn how to use tech more effectively.
Kids Create/Art Works | Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m.-noon; Tuesdays April 7, 14, 21, 28 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Explore open-ended art, craft, and building materials. Grownups are encouraged to join younger participants needing extra support for a fun, inclusive experience. Ideal for early learners.
and offering spectacular programming for all ages. We closed for renovations in August 2023 and reopened on Feb. 24, 2025. Our renovation included an addition which houses a brand-new community room. Since we had our grand reopening celebration last March 1, we haven’t yet decided how we plan to celebrate turning 30 this year. We look forward to seeing you though, so please come in and share your memories about our branch with us. ✦
Tween Hangout: Game On | Wednesdays, April, 8, 15, 22, 29 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Play games your way. Tweens pick the fun in this relaxed, no-pressure hangout. Meet other tweens and make new friends in a fun, welcoming space. Ideal for ages 8-13.
Smartphone Basics | Thursday, April 9, 1:30-3 p.m.
Learn how to navigate commonly used features on your smartphone. Afterwards, there will be time for answering your questions. Please bring your own device.
Metallic Foil Magnets | Thursday, April 9, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Choose your magnet design and apply sparkly foil sheets to bring your picture to life! Ideal for ages 5-12.
Constellation Projectors | Thursday, April 16, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Want to find constellations in the night sky? We’ll make constellation projectors that you can take home. Shine the flashlight in a dark room and you’ll project start patterns like Orion and the Big Dipper on a wall or ceiling. Ideal for ages 5-12. Flower Power | Thursday,
April 23, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Presented by the Denver Botanic Gardens. Discover all the parts of a flower and learn about the vital roles each one plays in the process of pollination. Dissect a flower and plant seeds to grow at home. Ideal for ages 5-12.
Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, April 25, noon1:30 p.m.
We meet on the fourth Saturday of every month. All are welcome. This month we will be discussing Central Park West: A Crime Story by James Comey.
Día del Niño: Hojalata Folk Art Activity and Paletas | Thursday, April 30, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Celebrate Día del Niño by making traditional folk art and eating paletas. Make your own beautiful hojalata artwork. Turn blank pieces of tin into embossed masterpieces full of designs, animals, and imagination. Ideal for ages 5-12.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Park Hill branch library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. and the Pauline Robinson branch library is at 5575 E. 33rd Ave.
Wanda Patronella Laura HillMarta Fivehouse-NiemannGerri Synnott
Check out the new front desk, with Peter Simon, Jennifer Abel and Dawn Mendel. Photo by Rachel Reddick
Making Hard Decisions
The 5 C’s Of Difficult Veterinary Decisions Helps Map The Path Forward
By Margot K. Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ | For the GPHN
When faced with a serious pet illness, how do you choose what’s right for you and your pet?
Medicine, both human and veterinary, can do so many things — even the occasional miracle. But it also can carry significant costs financially and emotionally. As a pet owner, what do you do when you’re facing a significant health emergency or declining health for your dog or cat?
You are not obligated to pursue every medical procedure or treatment offered for a sick pet. While you have an ethical duty to prevent your pet from suffering, you have the right — and responsibility — to weigh the costs, the prognosis, the stress of treatment on the animal and your own quality of life. And, the veterinarian should be told of your goals, financial constraints and educate you on the options and other information to help guide your informed decision-making. There are many tests, procedures and treatment options and it can be overwhelming when you suddenly learn of a potentially serious-to-even-terminal disease or see your senior pet declining. The following is some guidance how to approach these difficult decisions. We refer to it as the five Cs of difficult veterinary decisions – looking at things from the pet perspective more analytically than emotionally:
3. Capability: What is your pet still able to do? Are they eating, drinking, able to go properly to the bathroom outside or in their litter box, seeking or avoiding interaction with family members and being able to enjoy their favorite activities? Capability is a significant factor in a pet’s emotional well-being.
Capability is a significant factor in a pet’s emotional well-being.
4. Commitment: What care can you realistically provide for your pet? Make an honest assessment of the human’s ability to provide frequent medications, special diets, mobility assistance, time-intensive home care and follow-up visits to the veterinary office. Not everyone wants to manage urinary or fecal incontinence, frequent diarrhea or physically moving around a large dog who no longer has reasonable mobility.
1. Condition: What is your pet experiencing? What is the illness, condition or injury? How will it progress? Is the condition treatable, manageable or terminal?
2. Comfort: Is your pet in pain? There are many pain management options available, but not every option might be appropriate based on contraindications, side effects, cost or efficacy in the face of progressive, terminal disease.
5. Compassion: What is the kindest choice? This is the most emotional factor, as it means choosing what best provides your pet’s dignity and comfort while honoring your love for them. Sometimes treatment improves life significantly. but may only last for a period of time. Preventing suffering must always be the priority. There is nothing that makes facing a pet’s serious illness or decline easy. But part of our contract as pet owners is to ensure that they not only have the best quality of life, but also the best quality end-of-life in our care.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, including additional resources for pet owners about the 5 Cs of difficult veterinary decisions and end-oflife care, visit parkhillvet.com.
It’s Heating Up Over Here
Get Ready For An Action-Packed Spring And Summer. Not A GPHC Member? What Are You Waiting For?
By Colette Carey | Executive Director, GPHC, Inc.
Greetings Park Hill neighbors!
As we launch into spring, your team at Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC) is already looking forward to a busy summer. Our weekly free farm stand will kick back into gear next month, and our Garden Walk team is hard at work preparing for another amazing event on June 7. The Garden Walk is followed by the community Yard Sale on June 13, and the Fourth of July Parade on yes, July 4. Through this newspaper and our monthly meetings, we continue our commitment to keeping Park Hill informed of these upcoming events, as well as important issues facing our community.
Our March meeting featured a presentation from a representative of the Colorado Department of Trans-
portation (CDOT) on the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project for Colorado Boulevard. We learned that the project is a mandate from the state, directing CDOT to reduce greenhouse gasses along the Front Range.
Most in attendance were skeptical that this project will reduce enough traffic (and thus enough gasses) to offset the traffic and disruption to local businesses that the construction will inevitably cause — as we are now seeing with the current Colfax BRT project. Concerns were also raised about the lack of sidewalks on Colorado Boulevard and the need for improving the green infrastructure along the route to ease possible flooding. The BRT will use existing diesel buses and be maintained by the Regional Transportation District.
This will not be the last meeting on this topic, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, head to codot.gov/ projects/studies/denvermetrobrt/coloradoblvd for the latest information.
As you read this, if you have not already joined GPHC, please consider membership in our registered neighborhood organization. For the small cost of $35 per year, you qualify for special pricing on events like the Park Hill Home Tour and Street Fair.
More importantly, you support our efforts to maintain one of the oldest, largest and most respected neighborhood groups in Denver.
Many of our donations are earmarked exclusively for the emergency food pantry (which is fine).
As many of you who own older Park Hill homes understand, upkeep of our building, at 2823 Fairfax St., is expensive — and without the build-
ing, we don’t have the pantry. GPHC only maintains two part-time paid employees at nonprofit salaries, so your membership goes a long way in supporting our many missions and keeping us vital and strong. (The newspaper you are reading is also published by GPHC, and it operates on a budget that is mainly advertiser-driven.)
Please become a member and help make a difference in this community. Check out greaterparkhill.org/joinus/become-a-member to sign up.
GPHC’s next meeting is April 2, at 2823 Fairfax St. beginning at 6:30 p.m. See you there! ✦
The following organizations and individuals donated to and volunteered with Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. last month:
INDIVIDUALS
Sylvia Aldena
Harmon Alpert
Irene Andress
Alice and Marc Applebaum
Penny Ashley-Lawrence
Cathy Bauchwitz
Jennifer and Jeffrey Calderone
Inga Calvin
Kristy Corcoran
Elena Cumberbatch-Lynch
Alecia Davis
Abigail Dice
Erin Donovan
Robert and Beth
Duncan
Jennifer Dyer
Anne and Joe
Frank
Bobbi Gillis
Lisa and Charles Haddox
Whitney Hamblin
Amy Harris
Andrew Hartman
Nicki Hayes
Ellen Hokanson
Lars Johnson
Jane W Klever
Joe and Sharon Little
Natalie and Pat Love
Debra and Mark Lovell
Tracey MacDermott
David Mays
Harriet Mullaney
Chris Nielsen
Mark Onderdunk
Francesca Pinto
Ellen W Reath
Joan Root
Louann Sakala
Mary Salsich
Stu and Shelly Scales
MK Smith
Sarah Speicher Kait Speth
Elizabeth Spohn
Mary Jo Starmer
Christopher Stewart
Marekah Stewart
Susan and Darwin Toll
Benjamin Waldman
Belinda Walker Sue Wofford
GROUPS,ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Cure D’Ars Catholic Church
Curtis Park Deli
FFF Neighbors
Fight Hunger Bag Program
Food Bank of the
Sharing The Bounty
Rockies
Mayfair Liquors
Messiah Community Church
Nestman Orthodontics
Oneida Street Neighbors
Park Hill Branch Library
Park Hill United Church of Christ (UCC)
Park Hill United Methodist Church
Paws ‘n’ Play Denver LLC
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Yeshe Nyingpo Denver
PANTRY VOLUNTEERS
David Addor
Bruce Campbell
Audrey Diamontopoulis
Princess Gray
Andrew Hartman
Barbara Homs
Paula Marinelli
Betsy Post
Kathy Reeves
Carole Robinson
Deb Rosenbaum
Heather Selph NEWSPAPER BUNDLERS & DELIVERERS
Jon Bowman
Martha Douglas
Mona Estrada
Maria Flora
Bernadette Kelly
Tracey MacDermott
Laurel Mohr
Elisa Michael
Mary Salsich
Heather Shockey
Jacqui Shumway
Mark Silverstein
Who We Are, What We Do
The Board of Directors of GPHC, Inc.
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 for a board position or serving on a committee, contact GPHC Board Chair Shane Sutherland at chair@greaterparkhill.org.
• Board Chair Shane Sutherland
• Treasurer Heather Shockey
• Secretary Bernadette Kelly
• District 1 Kevin Doyle
• District 2 Brenda Morrison
• District 3 Heather Shockey
• District 4 Currently Vacant
• District 5 Bernadette Kelly
• District 6 Currently Vacant
• District 7 Jon Bowman
• District 8 Nam Henderson
• District 9 Terry Brewick
• District 10 James Korn
• At Large Bruce Campbell
• At Large Mona Estrada
• At Large Maria Flora
• At Large Tracey MacDermott
• At Large Louis Plachowski lplachowski@gmail.com
• At Large Shane Sutherland
• Blessed Sacrament Betsy Boudreau
• Park Hill UMC Jacqui Shumway
Park Hill Garden Walk To Feature Plant Swap-And-Share; Eight Beauties To Be Featured This Year
By Micki Amick | Park Hill Garden Walk Organizer
The annual and much-loved Park Hill Garden Walk is fast approaching — Sunday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This year’s eight featured (and beautiful) gardens are in the area between Glencoe and Oneida streets, from 29th to 16th avenues. Your ticket will be your entry into all eight gardens, where you can see the many ways that Park Hill gardeners have created intimate spaces, including in smaller gardens. Each garden will also showcase artists who work in media from painting, printing, and paper to ceramics, glass and metal sculpture.
An exciting feature this year will be a special kind of plant sale. Imagine a type of thrift store — but for plants. One of the featured garden sites will host the sale of plant seedlings or transplants, known as “starts.” Attendees are invited to bring and share starts from their own gardens. For example, do you have too many iris bulbs, or extra seedlings from thinning early planting or during spring garden clean-up?
You can share your starts and surplus flora to help generate funds to support the Greater Park Hill Food Pantry. Anytime after May 1, bring them in small containers with some soil to 6645 17th Ave., where a table will be set up for your plants. Gardener Colleen Gill, the organizer and host of this fund-raising plant sale, will take over their care after you drop off the plants. If possible, include helpful information, including the type of plant, color, size, whether it needs sun or shade, etc. Gill suggests that emailing her (colleen@nutrition-foundations.com) a picture of the mother plant would also be helpful.
Your donated starts and plants are considered in-kind charitable donations based on fair market value. You can be proud to contribute to our community and to see your plants for sale during the Garden Walk. You may even see your plants growing happily in their new home throughout the neighborhood. Gill feels that the plant sale at her featured garden will help neighbors get their gardens started at affordable prices, and will help support the food pantry. Her 13-year-old grandson was the inspiration for this new event, and you can find him during the Garden Walk selling lemonade and muffins. Tickets for the Garden Walk go on sale May 9 and can be purchased at Spinelli’s Market (23rd and Dexter), City Floral (14th and Kearney), the Park Hill Library (Montview and Dexter) or online at parkhillgardenwalk.org. The Garden Walk committee is seeking volunteers to staff three-hour shifts during the event. If you volunteer, you can have both a fun day and help the Park Hill Community. Please contact Kate Blanas if you would like to volunteer: klblanas@gmail.com. ✦
A few of gardener Colleen Gill’s starter plants.
[ GREATER PARK HILL RESOURCES ]
Active Minds
The organization’s mission is to expand lives and minds by providing outstanding educational programs. Check out free lectures on topics ranging from music to history, current events to foreign affairs, including in and near Park Hill. A schedule of upcoming events is at activeminds.com
Art Garage
6100 E. 23rd Ave., artgaragedenver.com, 303-377-2353. The Art Garage is a nonprofit visual art community center whose mission is to offer arts-based programs that inspire, empower and promote creative self-expression by people of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels. Check out ArtGarageDenver.com for details.
Blunders and Beers
Blunders and Beers is a Park Hill Chess Club that meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Longtable Brewhouse, 2895 Fairfax St., beginning at 6 p.m. All skill levels are welcome. Bring a board if you have one.
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
Thousands of our neighbors have been living unsheltered and are struggling for basic services. Thousands more are newcomers to Colorado, arriving with little to nothing. So many can use your help. Check out our online directory at greaterparkhill.org/spreading-the-love/ for organizations who accept donations — from clothes and furniture to bikes and baby essentials.
Faith Community
greaterparkhill.org/faith
Greater Park Hill’s faith community, home to over 30 places of worship in just four square miles, is as diverse and robust as the neighborhood itself. The GPHN maintains a list of Park Hill’s places of worship at the website above. Contact individual places of worship for information about their current state of operations.
GPHC community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of the month, except for December and July. GPHC community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of the month, except for December and July. The next meeting is Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at 2823 Fairfax St. The May meeting is Thursday, May 7.. Check greaterparkhill.org/join-us/community-meetings/ for info on how to participate.
Libraries
denverlibrary.org
See the “At the Library” feature on page 15 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. Open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Park Hill Peloton
A recreational group of road cyclists that roll from Park Hill once or twice a week. Check the current status of their rides on the Park Hill Peloton Facebook page.
Sie Filmcenter
2510 E. Colfax, denverfilm.org, 303-595-3456.
Free Zoom Tai Chi
Free Beginner Tai Chi Zoom
Classes every Friday at 9 a.m. Longtime Park Hillers Jacqui and Joe lead the class. Call their clinic at 303-744-766 or register online at TaiChiDenver.com.
Walk2Connect
www.walk2connect.com
Park Hill Sunrise Walking Trips happen every Tuesday from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Meet in front of Honey Hill Cafe at 23rd & Dexter Street for a casual, conversational-paced community walk. Everyone is welcome.
APARTMENT RENTAL
Beautiful 2 large bedrooms and 1 bath apartment in South Park Hill. See Zillow for pictures and information.
1523 Ivy Street #6
Call Patty 970-275-1575
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
Mason – Brick, stone, chimney repair, historic renovation. Your Park Hill Expert. Fully Insured, free estimates Call Ben @720670-0874
PREMIER PAINT WORKS since 1993. Denver’s Residential Paint Specialists. Int/Ext. Neat, conscientious craftsmanship by polite, respectful, honest &
fully insured crew. Impeccable references. Call or text John at 720-849-3921.
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 720-4857207 or jpabz04@gmail.com
PLASTER
We repair plaster and drywall, specializing in older homes. Now in our 28th year. The Wall Rebuilders 303-698-1057 www.wallrebuilders.com
ROOFING
Roofing: Repairs, Inspections, Flashings, Hail Damage, and reroofing licensed, bonded, and insured. Gutter replacement and cleaning. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
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 303-948-7999
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Be a Local Hero — Volunteer with Greater Park Hill News! We rely on volunteers to distribute the newspaper each month. Distributing the paper means “adopting” a block and delivering the newspaper to each home. It’s a great activity for families \ to do together, and takes just about 15 minutes. Interested in supporting your community newspaper and helping to get the news out? Contact us at newspaper@ greaterparkhill.org or visit greaterparkhill.org/newspaper for more information and to sign up.
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
To advertise in the Classifieds contact newspaper@greaterparkhill.org 720-287-0442 (voicemail). the deadline for submission is the 15th of every month
Flashy Pest
Harlequin bugs can be real heartbreakers. These brilliantly-marked bugs come in shades of orange, red, yellow and black. They feed on ornamental flowers, like the cleome pictured here, and can also cause serious damage to crucervious crops, like kale, broccoli, cabbage and mustard. Harlequin bugs, also known as Calico and Fire bugs, are stinkbugs of the family Pentatomidae. No matter what you call them, these bugs mean trouble. If you spot a harem in your garden, you can hand-pick them off the plants and drop them into a cup of soapy water. This bug was photographed at Bluff Lake by Mark Silverstein.
Research Study in your Area is Looking to Improve Treatments for Trauma Patients
The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is conducting a research study that will look at whether calcium, vasopressin, or both early in the course of treatment would help severely injured patients that lose a lot of blood survive their injuries.
The CAlcium and VAsopressin following Injury Early Resuscitation (CAVALIER) trial will include approximately 1,050 people aged 18 to 90. Patients who have traumatic injuries with loss of blood may be enrolled by participating emergency medical personnel during their transportation to the hospital or after arrival to a participating UCHealth hospital.
CAVALIER is an Exception from Informed Consent (EFIC) trial, meaning that, the trial requires performing a potentially life-saving intervention in people who are too injured
to give permission. This study will look at treatment for patients who have a traumatic injury and have lost a lot of blood. These patients are too injured to give permission before receiving the study drug. Permission for continued participation will be obtained from patients once they are able, or from their family members, as soon as possible.
For more information about CAVALIER or to complete an anonymous survey on your thoughts about this EFIC study, please go to www.litesnetwork.org/CAVALIER.
This research is supported by DoD contract W81XWH16-D-0024 W81XWH-22-F-0118. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
