GPHN April 2018

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All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1961 • Volume 57, Issue No. 4 • April 2018

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

PARK HILL CHARACTER

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Tribute To

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Veteran Children’s Center Teacher Lives On In Memory By Lynn Kalinauskas Education Chair, GPHC

– Cheryl Lange McLaughlin

him. Yet a very small part of me hoped. I wanted to drive down Montview Boulevard and see him in the front yard of the church running with little children, one more time. I wanted to jump up, wave and shout his name as he drove the painted bus down 23rd Avenue for the 4th of July parade. I wanted to have one chance to run up to him and tell him he had been the best teacher, the best magician, the best storyteller, the best animal lover, just THE BEST. I wanted the world to be right again. Peter was and still is a hero in this neighborhood. He had a magical ability to transform the mundane into excitement

and beauty, the supernatural into the real. He was a knight, a princess, a frog, a tiger, a racecar driver and a unicorn. Most of all, he was an inspiration to generations of children and their families throughout Park Hill. There has been an outpouring of love for Peter since his disappearance: moments remembered and mismatched socks worn in hope and in memory of the man. An estimated 500 people gathered to celebrate his life on March 24 during a memorial at the church. continued on page 4

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Peter McInerney, a 37-year veteran teacher at the Children’s Center at Park Hill United Methodist Church, was reported missing on Feb. 20 when he did not report for work. His car was found near Jones Pass near Idaho Springs, where he loved to cross-country ski. His body was found on March 1. His obituary noted he had experienced a cardiac event. From the moment I heard of Peter’s disappearance, I knew he would not be back. The circumstances were ominous. His beloved Colorado mountains had claimed

Peter driving the bus, at a past Park Hill 4th of July Parade.. Photo by Dan McKenna

Raw Politics: Lebsock Out, PERA Debated, What Will Hick Do? Islamic Center Sets Sight On ‘Real’ Affordable Housing

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Peter McInerney, the badass of Jones Pass. The children loved him on earth, and then he was called because he was needed in heaven.

Earth Matters: Climate Action Forum Yields Big Plans

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PETER

Bananas And PBJs And Talking To Strangers

Women Race Though City Park

UPCOMING GPHC MEETINGS Thursday, April 5, and Thursday, May 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at 2823 Fairfax St. All are welcome to attend.

Fix For The Flood-Prone Upper Montclair Basin Forum Set For April 10 By Nora Neureiter

community leaders, business owners, and others to first identify and then investigate solutions for several highly impacted, A 15-month study of flood-prone flood-prone areas in the basin. This areas in the Upper Montclair Basin final public meeting will offer opporwill culminate with a public meeting tunities for the community to learn to discuss the study’s findings and more about study results and next next steps. The public forum is Tuessteps on the following: day, April 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. • Hale Parkway and the area around APRIL IS the intersection of Severn and Jersey at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, at 1980 Dahlia St. EARTH Streets, including results of a traffic The Upper Montclair Basin in- MONTH study and next steps in developing a cludes the neighborhoods of Conhybrid solution of pipes and greengress Park, South City Park, the way. southern portion of Park Hill, Bellevue• 16th Avenue in Park Hill between ColoHale, Montclair, Mayfair, rado Boulevard and GlenHilltop, and Crestmoor. coe Street, including curIn early 2017, Denver Pubrent efforts to bring larger lic Works embarked on an storm pipes and green ambitious study to re-think infrastructure to improve stormwater management in drainage. the Upper Montclair Basin • 14th and Krameria Street and nearby areas along by adopting a communityColfax Avenue, includfirst approach. The goals ing updates on challenges were to identify near-term and opportunities in these drainage improvements to flood-prone, business and address nuisance flooding, plan for long-range Flash flooding has created night- residential areas. flood control in the event mares throughout Park Hill for • Resources and informaof a very large storm, and many years, inundating and dam- tion on how individuals strive for a more flood re- aging cars, basements, and gar- and neighborhood blocks silient basin through green dens. File photo by Cara DeGette can minimize the impact of localized flooding. infrastructure and smarter The public meeting will include a checkland use. in and orientation from 5:30- 6 p.m. and A range of stormwater management an open house from 6 - 7 p.m. Background strategies were suggested, discussed, and information, maps, meeting minutes, and evaluated by local residents, community meeting materials are available at: denverleaders, and business owners during five gov.org/uppermontclairbasin. rounds of public meetings. The team worked with area residents, Special to the GPHN

Photo by Reid Neureiter

MARCH FOR OUR LIVES Students and supporters rallied in March in Park Hill, throughout the nation and around the globe to protest gun violence and support stricter gun laws. Above, the crowds were massive in downtown Denver on March 24. Ten days earlier, Park Hill students joined in solidarity with peers around the country, marking the 30 days following the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in which 17 were killed. Students at Park Hill Elementary, at right, participated in a “Walk Around” to support Park Hill being a safe place for learning and treating each other kindly. See page 10 for additional photos of students from Stedman Elementary, McAuliffe Middle School and East High.

At Park Hill Elementary. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hebbard

See Earth Month Activities On Page 11


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