If you thought March madness would lead to tranquility in April, think again.
But first, cast your vote.
This year’s municipal election has been called the most critical in recent memory. Mayor Michael B. Hancock is term-limited after 12 years. The 13-member Denver City Council is up for grabs.
By Cara DeGette GPHN Editor
Saying it’s been a hard year at East High School is an understatement. Students and faculty have endured threats of violence, resulting in school lockdowns, until they have become nearly routine.
On Feb. 13, Luis Garcia, a junior and
varsity soccer player at the school, was shot while he was sitting in his car on the Esplanade. Two weeks and two days later the 16year old was taken off life support. The day Garcia died, hundreds of his grieving classmates walked out of school and marched the 1.5 miles to the Colorado capitol. There, continued on page 4
Also on the ballot: Westside Investment Partners’ controversial effort to terminate the conservation easement protecting the Park Hill Golf Course property, which has been a defining issue of the election. The developer’s ballot measure is Referred Measure 2 O.
Of 17 candidates for mayor, one, Kwame Spearman, has dropped out. Unless one of the remaining candidates receives more than 50 percent of the vote on April 4, the top two candidates will face off in a June 6 runoff election.
On April 4, Park Hill will also vote for two at-large council representatives. The top two citywide vote-getters will automatically win. Depending on where you live in Park Hill, you will also vote for your city council representative in District 8 or District 9.
Auditor Tim O’Brien is up for reelection, and is being challenged by Erik Clarke.
Clerk and Recorder Paul López is uncontested in his reelection bid. Voters will decide two other referred measures — 2 M, concerning the Board of Adjustment, and 2 N, concerning the City Zoning Authority. By the time you are reading this it is too late to return your ballot by mail. Plan to drop your signed ballot off by 7 p.m. on Election Day, April 4, at one of several locations around the neighborhood. Drop-offs are at Hiawatha Davis, Jr. Recreation Center at 33rd and Holly, the Museum of Nature and Science in City Park, the Montclair Recreation Center in the Lowry neighborhood, and East High School.
After you’ve turned in your ballot, check denver.ballottrax.net/voter/, where you can track it like a package — from printing to acceptance for counting. And then, get ready to do it all again, for the runoff election on June 6.
The Greater Park Hill News has been covering the mayoral and city council races since January, and has reported extensively on the ongoing controversy over Westside Investment Partners’ efforts to develop the Park Hill Golf Course property. Go to greaterparkhill. org/news-and-opinion/election-2023/ to access the complete package of election-related stories.
Story and photos by Reid Neureiter
For the GPHN
The Denver East Angels faced monumental challenges bringing home the high school’s record-tying 12th state basketball title.
First was the dark emotional cloud hanging over the close-knit East Colfax campus after the death of 16-year-old schoolmate junior Luis Garcia following a Feb. 13 shooting just yards from the school’s front door. The playoff bracket, too, posed a massive
hurdle. The 4th-seeded Angels were to face top-ranked Mountain Vista in the semi-finals. An upset win would see them confront No. 3-seeded Fossil Ridge for the title. Fossil Ridge’s Sabercats had given the Angels a 63-40 thrashing back on Dec. 2, forcing Coach Rudy Carey to make some significant tactical adjustments for his height-challenged Angels.
But the Angels were undefeated since that Dec. 2 loss. They entered the final four weekend riding a wave of emotion and a 24-game win streak. The team warmed up in T-shirts with the slogan “Angels Against Gun Violence” on the front, and Garcia’s #11 soccer jersey number and signature on the back.
A ring for every digit
In the March 10 semi-final, the explosive, sharp-passing Angels
continued on page 10
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Colorado mourned one of its finest public servants last month when we lost former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, who died at her home in Florida at age 82.
Pat was the first woman ever elected to represent our state in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was, unquestionably, a pioneer for women’s rights in this country. She not only inspired an entire generation of women to make their voices heard, she helped pave the way for us to do so.
I’ll never forget the moment that Pat was first elected to the U.S. House. I was a student at Denver’s South High School and like so many other young women at the time, was inspired by what she had just accomplished. Here she was, a 32-year-old mother, with two young children, who had defied all the odds to become the second youngest woman ever elected to Congress. The excitement was palpable, and there was suddenly an entire generation of girls and women, including myself, who felt empowered to follow her lead.
When Pat first arrived in Congress, she was one of only 16 women serving in the U.S. House. And yet, despite the resistance she faced, she was determined to not only lead the way for more women to follow, but to fight for them at every turn.
For 24 years, she fought tirelessly for the constituents she represented in Colorado’s First Congressional District, and she was a fierce advocate for women, children and families throughout this country.
She co-founded the Congressional Women’s Caucus and led the fight for family and medical leave. She was the driving force behind the passage of landmark legislation to protect pregnant workers, and fiercely opposed any effort to cut funding for childhood education. She was the first woman ever selected to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, where she became a vocal critic of the military’s treatment of women; and led countless efforts to better protect our military personnel.
What made Pat so unique, though, wasn’t just her brilliance or her passion for public service. It was her razor-sharp wit. Pat could trade barbs with anyone, without a moment’s notice. She could disarm the harshest critics with her humor and grace, and she had an unrivaled ability to light up
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almost any room she walked into. Pat dedicated her life to serving her community and making the world a better place. She certainly did both those things – and more. Pat became a true friend and mentor to me after I succeeded her in the House, and I will be eternally grateful, not only for the time we spent together, but for all the guidance she provided me over the years.
Like so many Coloradans, I am extremely thankful for the incredible work Pat did on behalf of our state for so many years; and, like so many women, I can’t thank her enough for her unrelenting efforts to blaze the trail that she did.
There will never be another Pat Schroeder. She was truly one of a kind, and a giant whose shoulders we all stand on today.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette succeeded Pat Schroeder and currently represents Colorado’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She serves as co-chair of the House Pro-Choice Caucus and is the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy, Climate and Grid Security subcommittee.
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.
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It’s April, which means it’s time to hang out the garden hummingbird feeders for the tiny hummers who are returning to Park Hill after a long winter down south. There are more than 365 species of hummingbirds in the Americas, but only four of them — the Broad-tailed, Rufous, Calliope and Black-Chinned — are commonly found in Colorado. Many others, like the Green-Crowned Brilliant hummingbird pictured here, live full time in the warmer climates of Mexico, Central and South America. This Green-Crowned Brilliant was photographed in Costa Rica by Mark Silverstein.
Enough,
they rallied and demanded Colorado legislators pass laws to help stop gun violence.
A week later, on March 22, Austin Lyle, a 17-year old East student, shot and seriously wounded two school administrators as he was being patted down. Lyle fled to the mountains, where he died by suicide.
Officials later confirmed that daily patdowns at school had been a requirement for Lyle, who had been on probation for a prior weapons charge. That stunning revelation unleashed a fresh chorus of anger from teachers, students and parents who were unaware of the DPS protocol.
After the second shootings, students again descended on the capitol, joined by
teachers and supporters from other Denver Public Schools, demanding tougher gun laws and calling on district officials to enact policies to protect them from violence.
At the end of March, the Democraticcontrolled legislature passed a package of gun safety laws, including raising the age limit to 21 for all firearms purchases, expanding Colorado’s red-flag law, and making it easier to file lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers.
East High varsity soccer player Luis Garcia, in an Oct. 8, 2022 game against Lewis-Palmer High School. On Feb. 13, Garcia was shot as he sat in his car parked next to East. He died on March 1. Photo by Reid Neureiter
This is a story about conservation; what happens when humans don’t pay close enough attention to the effects of deforestation and clearcutting, versus what happens when they do.
In December I got to go on a 10-day photo workshop/tour in Costa Rica. One high point for me was getting to see (and take pictures!) of the Resplendent Quetzal. It is a really beautiful bird that was really special and sacred to the Aztec and the Maya and is the national bird of Guatemala (plus the currency there is called the quetzal — the bird’s likeness is even printed on the bills).
I’ve been to Guatemala many times — the first time back in 1991. I’ve carried quetzales in my wallet, but I never got to see the bird, as the few remaining in Guatemala are rarely seen. But there is a population of the birds in Costa Rica. Apparently a number of landowners there have been persuaded to stop cutting down the type of avocado trees whose fruit the Quetzals like to eat. Instead, those landowners make money off photographers and birdwatchers like me who come from all over to see these spectacular, threatened birds.
It’s April and the annual celebration of Earth Day is here. Beginning over 50 years ago, organizers sought out environmental protections for all that inhabit this planet. Concerns for our Mother Earth are not new. Had we been more proactive then, where could we be now?
We have all heard of the doomsday clock, a metaphor — and a warning — for how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. That clock moved up this year to 90 seconds before midnight, partly because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
What about the climate clock? The climate clock counts down the critical time window to reach zero emissions (our “Deadline”), while tracking progress on key solution pathways (“Lifelines”). It is currently set at about seven years. Seven years may seem as if we have lots of time compared to the 90 seconds on the doomsday clock. The reality, however, is that 2030 will be here in a blink of an eye. What can we do to stop a disaster?
group notes this action is one of the biggest and cheapest ways of removing CO2 from our air. Trees act as carbon sinks. They clean the air, and help mitigate the heat island effect. Denver can be 5 degrees hotter than neighboring tree-friendly Littleton. The Trust for Public Land found that cities use their parks to address heat risks. Park space per-person has fallen in Denver in recent years.
If you are not registered to vote, make this your Earth Day action.
Eight homeowners, including three in the Mayfair neighborhood will open their private outdoor space to the public on June 11 from 9:003:00. Tickets go on sale May 1 at www.parkhillgardenwalk.org.
Advanced tickets are $15, seniors (age 65+) are $12 and children under 12 are free. Tickets will also be available beginning May 1 at these Park Hill establishments:
City Floral: 1440 Kearney St. | Park Hill Library: 4705 Montview Blvd.
Spinelli’s Market: 4621 E. 23rd Ave. | Cake Crumbs: 2216 Kearney St. Park Hill Art Festival on June 3 and 4: 4958 Montview Blvd.
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. The global theme this year is Invest in our Planet, and organizers are focusing on the following key actions: climate literacy, ending plastic pollution, tree planting, voting pro-earth, sustainable fashion and global cleanup.
The Yale Program on Climate Change reports 70 percent of middle school and 55 percent of high school science teachers do not recognize the scientific consensus on climate change. Yet Americans support teaching our children about the causes of climate change and its impacts. Earth Day organizers believe “every learner in every school in the world should receive fully integrated, assessed climate and environmental education with a strong civic engagement component.” Our youth are our most-valuable assets to solving this crisis. Let’s ensure they are provided with climate education in our classrooms so they can help solve our greatest existential threat.
We don’t need specialized education to understand that plastics are everywhere. One glance around our city streets highlights our plastic problem. With an abysmal 9 percent overall recycling rate, the world is failing to address the growing impact on human health, animals and ecosystems with the prolific use of plastics. We are choking on plastic. Consider signing the Call for a Global Plastics Treaty at Earthday.org and make changes in your home and work.
The Canopy Project has planted tens of millions of trees across the globe. The
As often noted in these pages, we have a golden opportunity at the Park Hill Golf Course land to help increase our park space and mitigate the heat island effect. Plant a tree this month, or donate to local organizations such as The Park People and the Canopy Project to help get this done.
One of the best ways you can help our planet is through the simple act of voting. If you are not registered to vote, make this your Earth Day action and pledge to vote in local and national elections. Vote for pro-climate candidates who are committed to solving this crisis. Denver’s municipal election is April 4. Get out and vote!
From Earthday.org’s fact sheets, the fashion industry produces 150 billion (yes billion) garments a year. Fully 87 percent of it ends up in a landfill. Fashion is one of the most polluting industries and razes 150 million trees for cellulosic fabrics. In addition, 62 percent of all clothing is made partially or entirely of synthetic fabrics which when washed, shed microplastics into our waterways and oceans. Simple things you can do to slow down fast fashion: educate yourself, buy less, choose natural materials, buy recycled and secondhand clothing, and research brands that are ethical and sustainable.
The last of this years’ goals includes the Great Global Cleanup, a campaign to rid the environment of waste and plastic pollution. This is a worldwide effort to clean up our communities, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails and parks. Join us on Earth Day — Saturday, April 22 — and get outside and help clean up our neighborhood. Making this an ongoing effort will be important in helping Mother Earth, while cleaning up Park Hill.
Make a new climate friendly commitment this Earth Day and invest in our shared planet.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large member of the board of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., and immediate past chair. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017, and is currently the Statewide Co-Chair of the Climate Reality Project for the 100% Committed Campaign.
For the GPHN
How many of us remember the unsightly black smoke rising from burning piles of tires during the 1980s? Those tire fires triggered efforts to figure out ways to recycle those old tires. Today many scrap tires are reused, but not in the most climatefriendly way. A Michigan market development study suggests we in the U.S. generate around 300 million scrap tires every year — 80 percent of them are processed for three secondary uses. A large portion (40 percent) fuels electricity power plants, cement kilns and paper mills. Another 30 percent are shredded into small pieces for use in asphalt, pathways, and athletic fields. The remain-
der is used as permeable fill for civil engineering drainage projects. There is a new push to divert scrap tires from being burned and instead used in rubber-modified asphalt. California and Arizona are perfecting this use of scrap tires and have figured out how to reduce the cost; therefore more states are beginning to follow.
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/.
MAKING CITY GOVERNMENT
"Denver is at a crossroads, and our city is changing in ways that seemed unimaginable ten years ago. Our crime stats paint a sobering picture, including that Denver is #1 in car thefts. Our violent crime rate is up 10% and drug-related crimes increased 24% (both in 2022). As your next council member, I will lead and work in partnership to address the public safety concerns of our communities. I’ll work with the Denver Police Department to ensure that officers hired represent the communities they serve; I will fund alternative responses to DPD to nonviolent interactions; I will implement police reforms; and I will increase community health funding. This is how we will create a safer, more just District 9 where each and every one of us can thrive."
The 2023 Park Hill Garden Walk promises endless inspiration, delivering creativity, environmentally-conscious garden design and visual beauty.
This year’s gardeners have been challenged by many of the conundrums that most Colorado gardeners can relate to: sloped yards, failing retaining walls, poor soil, dry climate, water conservation issues, how to support native species — and how to make it all visually attractive. Many of the eight gardens featured this year are mature and well established, while others are still in their developmental adolescence. Taken all together, the Garden Walk provides opportunities to see the gardeners’ process. Come explore, ask questions, and gain insight for your own gardening ideas.
As usual, creativity is evident. Several corners of the world — France, Asia, and the New York City High Line — have provided inspiration for the landscaping themes. Hardscape elements incorporate
Ticket Details
The 2023 Park Hill Garden Walk is Sunday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets go on sale May 1 at parkhillgardenwalk.org. Advance tickets are $15, seniors (age 65+) are $12 and children under 12 are free. Tickets will also be available beginning May 1 at these Park Hill establishments:
• City Floral: 1440 Kearney St.
• Spinelli’s Market: 4621 E. 23rd Ave.
• Cake Crumbs: 2216 Kearney St.
• Park Hill Branch Library: 4705 Montview Blvd.
• Park Hill Art Festival on June 3 and 4: 4958 Montview Blvd.
concrete, metal, huge rocks, an old washtub and a livestock container pool. Other beautiful features include a seating area made from IPE Brazilian wood, a northern New Mexico-style stone terrace, and a solar pond. All of these elements are sure to inspire your own creative juices.
Many of the gardeners in this year’s event have made a concerted effort to create landscapes that are good for the environment and Colorado wildlife, in particular through planting an abundance of trees and low-water and native Colorado plants. You’ll see pollinator gardens that use a mix of annuals and perennials.
Some gardeners emphasize plants that provide shelter and nesting materials for birds, while others have chosen plants that support the overall well-being of birds and bees. Fruit trees, vegetable and herb gardens are scattered throughout these outdoor spaces. One incorporates a community garden. Another gardener has an elderflower bush, which he uses to make cordials.
Along with the imaginative use of hard and soft landscape materials and the impressive consideration and care for environment and wildlife, the Garden Walk also features local artists who show, share and sell their work at each of the eight gardens. You’ll find sculpture, oil and watercolor paintings, mixed media, paper arts, wood cuts and botanical prints, with many artists working en plein air
It’s a day of relaxation, immersion, beauty and education.
The Park Hill Garden Walk committee is a group of volunteers working to raise funds to support the mission of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. GPHC is a volunteerbased registered neighborhood organization that promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill through its resources, information and advocacy, while preserving the quality of life and the history of the neighborhood. Learn more and get involved at www.greaterparkhill.org.
Helen Wolcott’s Spring Show and Sale — a 50-plus year extravaganza featuring artisans who gather at her Park Hill home — is set for Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7. The show and sale runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Wolcott’s twiceyearly art and crafts shows began in the 1970s during the thick of the court battle over school integration, in which Park Hill was at the heart of the struggle. “During all those hours in court, we realized that we were all artists of a different kind,” she says. The artists/social justice warriors thus banded together for another purpose: promoting art and beauty. The tradition was briefly interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since resumed in full force.
The event, at 2309 Clermont St., includes the work of artists and artisans who display and sell their creations. Wolcott specializes in jewelry. Other participating artists include Cristina dePalma-Vega (fabric and paper art), Carmen Curtis Basham (pottery), Robin Wilton (weaving), Anne Heine (knitting), Pamela Bliss (soaps, candles and tie-dye), Anita Kienker (quilted creations), Patricia Foster (paintings and cards), Darrell Wunderlich (homemade salsa and jams) and Cindy Noel (fused glass).
Everybody is welcome. Bring a friend, stop by, and celebrate the hope of spring with a glass of sangria or a cup of spiced tea.
Several stores along Colfax teamed up for a “Sip and Shop” event in December and organizers report it went so well that they are sponsoring a spring version — this one with warm weather and daylight hours.
The Sidewalk Sale on the ‘Fax is Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Beginning at 11 a.m., you can enter the raffle and pick up a “punch card” at Park Hill Treasures, 6035 E. Colfax Ave., or The Abbey Tavern, at 5151 E. Colfax. For the next several hours, stop in at these participating shops on Colfax — all of which are between Forest and Kearney at the southern edge of Park Hill — where you can browse, enjoy some refreshments and get your cards punched:
• Mod Livin’
• Moss Pink
• Ceramics in the City
• A ntiques Etc.
• The Shop
• Park Hill Treasures
• The Local General
At 3:30 a raffle drawing for several prizes will be held at Mozart’s Denver, 1417 Kra-
meria St. If you turn in a completely filledout punch card, you’ll receive two more entries in the raffle.
It’s hard to believe, but the Annual Park Hill Art Festival turns 10 this year. The juried fine art and fine craft show is set for Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4.
Close to 100 professional artists from Colorado and beyond participate in the two-day show, which was founded by Darren Skanson. The artists’ work range from paintings to fine jewelry, woodwork to sculptures, textiles to photography.
The Art Fest is outside, on the grounds of the Park Hill Masonic Lodge on Montview Boulevard between Dahlia and Eudora streets. The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m both Saturday and Sunday. There is no entry charge.
ule. Pack a picnic and ride or walk or otherwise get yourself over to the park for a a jolt of what Sunday summer evenings in Denver are all about. The shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. All ages are welcome, and no RSVP is required. For more information or to volunteer, visit cityparkjazz.org.
Here’s the 2023 lineup:
• June 4: Sarah Mount and the Rushmores
• June 11: Stafford Hunter & Jazz Explorations
• June 18: Dotsero
• June 25: Ritmo Jazz Latino
• July 2: Wellington Billings
• July 8: Chris Daniels and the Kings
• July 16: 4th Annual Brass Band Extravaganza feat. Guerrilla Fanfare and Bourbon Brass Band
• July 23: Otis Taylor
• July 30: The Burroughs
• Aug. 6 – La Pompe Jazz
For the third year, the City Park Adopta-Flowerbed volunteers will again keep the City Park garden beds blooming. Last year, the program expanded to 55 volunteers, who put in a total of 1,877 volunteer hours. Organizers are hoping for more volunteers this year, as there is lots of work to make City Park beautiful.
The season kicks off in late April with a City Park Greenhouse tour for volunteers conducted by Denver horticulturist
Join neighborhood artists throughout the neighborhood for the Park Hill Open Studio Tour. The show, held each fall, features artists demonstrating their skills and selling their creations. Past participants have included painters, sculptors, potters, glass artists, fiber artists and jewelry makers. You may choose to exhibit in your own studio and open it to the public, or be a guest artist in another artist’s studio. The two-day tour will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Typically, traffic and weather are good for this fall weekend event. Application fee of $90 covers the cost of flyers, signs and other advertising. Participants are asked to help distribute signs and flyers. The deadline for applications is July 1. For questions or more information, contact Karrie McBryde (303204-7787), or Erika (shaxper22@yahoo. com).
City Park Jazz kicks off its summer free concert series on June 4 with Sarah Mount and the Rushmores and continues each Sunday through Aug. 6 in City Park, just west of Park Hill.
Eleven concerts are in this year’s sched-
Julie Lehman and her staff. A rose care and pruning workshop will be held in early May, led by Peggy Williams. In midMay City Park horticulturists provide an orientation for volunteers. And then, let the gardening begin!
During the summer months, volunteers pull weeds and prune and deadhead lilacs and other plants, and otherwise help maintain the city’s flowerbeds, as well as assisting park staff with occasional special projects. It’s also a great opportunity to exchange news and gardening tips, make new friends and rediscover acquaintances. Join the fun by contacting Maria Flora at mjflora@msn.com or Jacqueline June at jjdenco5008@gmail.com. The program is sponsored by Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., City Park Friends and Neighbors and City Park Alliance. Coordinators are Georgia Garnsey, Maria Flora and Jacqueline June.
Public Meeting To Detail The Latest On Controversial Project
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced last month that it will recommend $126.9 million in federal funding for the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project — which Denver officials recently branded the Lynx.
The city must still apply for the federal funding for the project, which is estimated to cost approximately $250 million to $300 million. Still, Denver officials are ecstatic about the latest development, which they described in a media release as “a strong vote of confidence for a project that will transform how people move and connect along East Colfax Avenue.”
The controversial project would reduce the lanes from two in each direction to one lane in each direction along the 9.9 mile-stretch of Colfax Avenue between Broadway to Yosemite Street, which is the eastern edge of Denver. The removed lanes would be replaced by a high-speed bus that city officials say would encourage higher transit use along the busy corridor.
Critics, however, question the impacts of reducing Colfax to a single lane of car traffic going each way along the busy thoroughfare. It is unclear how much additional car traffic would spill over to the
east-west corridors of 17th Avenue and 13th and 14th avenues, as well as impacting other residential streets. In addition, many have expressed concern that the BRT would negatively impact the many independent businesses along Colfax that rely on foot and car traffic.
Still, Denver officials have moved forward with the project, which is now in its final design phase. A community open house is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, during which city officials will present updates on the project, including streetscape designs, the selected Lynx logo and the public art selection process.
The meeting will begin with an overview presentation followed by an open house where the public will be invited to engage directly with project team members.
The meeting is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Carla Madison Recreation Center, at 2401 E. Colfax Ave. People who cannot attend in person can register and attend via Zoom at this link: tinyurl. com/ColfaxBRT. The city-sponsored link to more information about the Colfax BRT project is here: DenverGov.org/ColfaxBRT.
treated Mountain Vista as little more than a molehill, overcoming a 0-5 early game deficit to eventually run away in a 19-point 86-67 rout. The game was punctuated in the final minute by a looping alley-oop pass from senior star guard D’Aundre Samuels to fellow senior Gil Gonzalez for a thunderous dunk that sent Angels fans into a frenzy.
The championship game the next day versus Fossil Ridge at Denver Coliseum proved to be a historic encounter. Earlier
cia, for Coach Carey, and for a school community that had endured so much this year. The team did not disappoint, jumping to a 13-9 lead in the first quarter and extending that lead every quarter to eventually triumph by 21 points and a final score of 82-61.
Senior starting point guard (and Park Hill resident) Sam Scott, who had marched with the entire basketball team to the State Capitol to protest gun violence, told the Greater Park Hill News, “The whole Luis
The Angels were seemingly destined to victory: A victory for schoolmate Luis Garcia, for Coach [Rudy] Carey, and for a school community that had endured so much this year.
electric Samuels, went down with what appeared to be a game-ending ankle sprain.
Samuels is the fulcrum of East’s offense. He has precise fast break passing, coupled with slashing moves to the basket that result either in a bucket, a defensive foul, or open up East’s three-point shooters to hit from beyond the arc. In obvious pain, Samuels hopped the length of the floor to the East bench, where East athletic trainer Lisa Smith examined his injured limb.
“We all know he is the best player in the state,” said Scott. “It actually made my stomach hurt to see him injured. But we had to trust our team. We are capable of winning without him.”
Trainer Smith did her magic, taping the ankle tight. Minutes later, Samuels, limping heavily, returned to the floor to chants of “MVP, MVP,” from the raucous East student section.
The Sabercats never had a chance.
Samuels finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while senior wing sharpshooter Jack Greenwood led all scorers with 27 points, including five for seven from 3-point range. It seemed that whenever Fossil Ridge hit a basket, East would hit a 3-point shot to extend the lead. For the game, East shot 50 percent from beyond the
arc, hitting nine of 18.
East was effective on defense as well. Lacking the height of Fossil Ridge’s front line, East pressed for most of the contest, forcing 17 Sabercat turnovers, which included 13 Angel steals. Point guard Scott, who will attend Notre Dame University in the fall, was an instrumental part of the Angels’ smothering defense, registering four steals. “The other teams are bigger than us,” Scott said. “We have to get them out of their comfort zone. We capitalize on our speed.”
Said Coach Carey: “The reason this is so good is because this is a special group of kids. We did not have a center. [Our biggest player is] only 6 ‘3”. But these kids worked extremely hard.”
Senior Star Guard D’Aundre Samuels Honored For Athletics, Academics, Exemplary Character
D’Aundre Samuels has been described by his teammates as the best player in the state. That observation was confirmed on March 15 when the East senior star guard was named the 2023 Colorado Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
The award recognizes the nation’s most elite high school student-athletes in each state for three criteria: athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. The press release announcing the award highlighted Samuels’ performance in the state championship, and also his season average statistics of 21.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 4.9 steals per game.
Samuels has volunteered locally on behalf of two Denver-area youth basketball camps and maintains a B average. He remains undecided about a collegiate destination. This is the fourth time an East basketball player coached by Rudy Carey has won the award. Guard Brian Carey (who, yes, is Coach Carey’s nephew) won in 2015 and Dominique Collier won in both 2013 and 2014.
— Reid Neureiter
This was a new one.
When the March issue of the Greater Park Hill News hit the streets, Bill Rigler, the Boulder-based spokesman for Glendale-based Westside Investment Partners, which wants to develop the protected Park Hill Golf Course in Denver, sent a demand for an immediate correction in the newspaper.
In the message, subject line “Urgent correction to your headline and article,” Rigler wrote the following:
“Your March 2 [news story] includes a material error in the subhead and very first sentence. You erroneously state that Wellington Webb has joined the plaintiffs in the nearly-identical lawsuit for the former Park Hill Golf Course that a judge dismissed a year ago. I have [attached] a copy of the most recent lawsuit, and you will be able to see that Webb is not a party. Please make that correction online and in print immediately.”
Uh oh. Only one problem: We didn’t make a mistake. We reported — correctly — that the former mayor of Denver is a plaintiff in the newly-filed lawsuit against Denver and Westside. Which he is, indeed.
Webb has joined numerous other highprofile plaintiffs alleging that Denver engaged in illegal actions related to Westside’s plan to develop the golf course property. The former golf course is protected with a city-owned conservation easement, which taxpayers shelled out $2 million for in 1997.
So why would a guy in Boulder care so much about what is reported in the Greater Park Hill News? Rigler happens to also be the campaign manager for Westside’s “Yes on 2 O” campaign, to convince Denver voters to extinguish the conservation easement that forbids development of the golf course.
Westside is paying Rigler handsomely — more than $752,000 so far, according to campaign filings — to run the developer’s “Yes on 2 O” campaign via Rigler’s company, Greenlight Strategy.
It is unclear what exactly prompted Rigler to demand a correction to a factual story. We forwarded Mr. Rigler a copy of the amended complaint — which identified Webb as a plaintiff. Rigler merely acknowledged the correction to his correction with this response: “Thank you for the quick response.”
Sometimes, election season doesn’t bring out the best in people.
Caught red-handed
In related 2 O news, let’s talk about yard sign bandits. Many experienced politicos will advise anyone even thinking of stealing opponents’ yard signs to either:
1. Don’t do it. Stealing signs is illegal.
2. If you can’t help yourself, then at least do your commando raids well after mid-
night, when people are likely to be sleeping. If you yank out yard signs from private property in broad daylight, you are likely to be caught red-handed. And confronted. And maybe even videotaped.
Consider exhibit No. 1: A “Yes On 2 O” person was videotaped in March yanking a “NO on 2 O” yard sign from private property near the Park Hill Golf Course.
When she was confronted by the homeowner, with his videotape rolling, the sticky-fingered culprit not-very-convincingly informed him she thought she had removed the sign from “private … I mean public” property. The encounter can be viewed at this YouTube link: youtube.com/watch?v=b2oPn7rK8jo.
Where Is Mayor Hancock?
When it comes to 2 O and the Park Hill Golf Course, the no-development side has also had at least one troublemaker this campaign season.
Rev. Terri Hobert of St. Thomas Episcopal Church told the news site Denverite that “Yes on 2 O” yard signs had been stolen from church property at 22nd and Dexter. Hobart, who has emerged as a vocal supporter of Westside’s development plans, also reported that she was cursed at for five minutes by someone outside the church.
Faith leaders from other local congregations jumped in to defend the priest’s right to take a public stance on political issues, in a letter to the editor that appears on page 15.
One final observation on 2 O — at least for now: Former Mayor Webb has been front and center in opposition to 2 O, including writing letters, giving interviews and holding public events. In contrast, outgoing Mayor Michael B. Hancock, whose administration pushed tirelessly for a year to get the pro-development issue on the ballot, has noticeably stayed on the sidelines. Also surprisingly low-key during the campaign: Westside’s Kenneth Ho, who has headed efforts to develop the golf course for several years. (Though, as noted earlier, Ho’s company is exceedingly generous when it comes to campaign cash.)
Occasionally we do make mistakes in the newspaper. When a legitimate correction is warranted, we are happy to correct the record.
In our February issue, we were mortified when we realized we gave Tim Hoffman, a candidate running for an at-large council seat, a new name. We mistakenly identified him as “Will Hoffman.” We regret the error.
In last month’s issue, we made another mistake. In the list of candidate campaign contributions, we included an incorrect figure in the total amount that Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca has raised for her District 9 reelection race. That figure included contributions she also received dur-
ing her 2019 campaign. The correct amount for CdeBaca’s race for this year, as of Jan. 31, is $150,152 from 741 donors.
As of March 13, CdeBaca has raised $175,144 from 1,192 contributors. She is being challenged by Darrell Watson, who has $237,760 from 992 contributors as of March 13. The third candidate in that race, Kwon Atlas, has raised $57,785 from 268 contributors.
Tune in next month for results, updates, and other developments in the 2023 Denver municipal election.
Westside Investment Partners Principal Kenneth Ho, engrossed in the February issue of the Greater Park Hill News at a District 9 city council candidates’ forum at the CSU Spur. Ho, who is the project lead for the push to develop the Park Hill Golf Course, was there to cheer on District 9 candidate Darrell Watson. Photo by Cara DeGette
We represent a group of Denver-based historians from many different walks of life – authors, educators, former officials, design experts, preservation advocates, and more. Our pattern is to meet most weeks throughout the year and discuss current projects related to historic preservation, including research, writing, historic tours, restoration efforts, and design.
We are sharing comments on Ballot Measure 2 O which, if approved, would remove the 155-acre conservation easement to protect the Park Hill Golf Course land from future development. One of the characteristics which has set Denver apart from other cities has been its iconic parks and open space network. From graceful landscaped parkways to preserved spaces of high desert ecosystems, Denver has been blessed with a long history of placing value on parklands that contribute to a sense of place and to connect the city with its landscape setting.
While we support the need to provide housing and new investment in the city, we strongly oppose sacrificing a conservation easement paid for by Denver residents to be replaced with a master plan proposal at the former Park Hill Golf Course. As members of the community with a keen awareness of Denver’s urban form and its neighborhoods, there are ample areas for infill and redevelopment throughout the city. It is a flawed process on the part of city officials to present voters with a false choice between open space or development.
Denver now has a serious deficit of parkland and open space which has significant dropped its status and ranking for parks. The city’s own analysis of its park system identifies that there is now a 1,400-acre
deficit in parkland citywide. Today we only have 9 acres of parkland for every 1,000 people, when the national average is 13 acres per 1,000 people. And many of our most park deficient neighborhoods are in lower-income areas and communities of color (see Game Plan for a Healthy City, 2019 – the city’s adopted park plan – and Trust for Public Land).
We encourage a “NO” vote on the ballot measure – with a message back to city officials to identify opportunities for new housing that do not surrender existing open space. To reclaim Denver’s reputation as a “city in a park,” we need decisions that close our serious parkland gap and decision that direct housing to areas that are the ripest of infill and redevelopment – that is the many acres of vacant and underutilized lands currently in the city.
Building on our past legacy of parks and vibrant neighborhoods should be at the core for creating a future that is sustainable, ecologically healthy, equitable, and resilient — especially to the challenges of a changing climate.
– Tom Noel, professor emeritus of history, CU-Denver, and former state historian
– Mark A. Barnhouse, Denver historian and author
– Bart Berger, Colorado historian
– Jay Fell, professor of history, CU-Denver
– Danny Gallagher, son of state Sen. Dennis Gallagher
– Jim Kroll, former manager of Western History & Genealogy, Denver Public Library
– Katy Ordway, professor of history, Red Rocks Community College
– Stephen J. Leonard, former chair and professor of history, Metro State University of Denver
– Mary O’Neil, schoolteacher
For
As Denver voters return their ballots for the April 4 election, here’s a reminder of my stance on Referred Question 2 O.
I have faith that voters will see through all the lies in campaign literature also landing in their mailboxes. Do your homework because this election will greatly impact our city’s future.
The Denver Post has urged voters to vote NO on 2 O because it’s a bad deal for taxpayers. I agree for that reason and others. The conservation easement on 155 acres of open space, known as the Park Hill Golf Course, cost taxpayers $2 million with the understanding the land would not be developed. If we allow this property to be developed, what other parks will be targeted by developers?
Denver should not have to surrender its open space or city parks to address affordable housing concerns. And let’s be clear, this proposed affordable housing is not affordable. The 12 stories in height will block views, which has damaged other neighborhoods citywide.
Sloan’s Lake, Wash Park, Harvey Park, Cheesman, Bear Valley, Ruby Hill, and Chaffee, among others, were investments in Denver, and made as permanent parks for the city. None of these beloved parks were built overnight. In fact, the city secured the land in advance with the actual parks development coming years later. The same is true for Park Hill. We made the investment in Park Hill two decades ago with the conservation easement so that once its use as a golf course became obsolete, it would transition to a city park in northeast Denver.
Measure 2 O must be defeated, or it will become open season in Denver for developers to begin speculating with a new administration and council to open
up our other parks to affordable housing development. Because that is exactly what happened with the Park Hill Golf Course property. A private developer purchased a track of land legally off-limits to development — but they bought it anyway hoping political headwinds might one day become an opportunity.
I’m also alarmed that the developer claims 2 O creates Denver’s 4th largest park. Westside claims the park will be 100 acres, which is another lie, because their proposal is only 60 acres of real open space.
I urge every voter to do your research, and make the right choice. Denver cannot afford to allow this land to become a concrete jungle.
In this time of increasing divisiveness in our country and community, election seasons are becoming more and more contentious. In response, some people in our community have strongly suggested that faith communities should refrain from taking public stances on political issues.
While we implore all people to maintain relationships with each other, stay in conversation, practice civil discourse and seek understanding even when they hold different opinions, we affirm the legal right and moral obligation of all faith communities to take public stances on political and social issues that align with their values. And to speak out when they do not. We stand united as faith leaders to support and protect that right.
– The Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
– The Rev. Ian G. Cummins, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
– The Rev. Claudia Aguilar Rubalcava, Park Hill Congregational UCC
– The Rev. Dr. Valerie L. Jackson, Park Hill United Methodist Church
– The Rev. Genevieve Rohret-Navin, Park Hill United Methodist Church
– The Rev. Terri Hobart, St. Thomas Episcopal Church
– Pastor Inga Oyan Longbrake, Messiah Community Church, ELCA
– Rabbi Adam Morris, Temple Micah
– Fr. John Ludanha, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
– Deacon Kevin Heckman, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Thank you for publishing responses from candidates in the races for Denver mayor and city council districts 8 and 9 in the February and March issues. Your direct questions about Westside Investment Partners’ plans to develop the Park Hill Golf Course and the conservation easement on that property elicited responses that should help voters who care about these and other issues choose among the many candidates. I appreciated their direct and forthright answers to all of the questions, even when I didn’t particularly like some of their answers.
The lovely ad on page 26 in the February issue for Darrell Watson, candidate for the District 9 council seat, also caught my eye. His promise that “Parks are my priority…” and the history he cited regarding his efforts related to parks sounded good. That prompted me to want to learn more. What I
learned brought to mind the words in your Editor’s Note in that same issue on page 2: “Support Local Journalism, And Watch Out For Sharks.”
According to an Oct. 17, 2022 Business Den article by Thomas Grounley, as of Sept. 30 last year, Mr. Watson had raised over $77,000 from a roster of donors who could be considered a who’s who of major Denver real estate interests and developers, including Andrew Klein, Kevin Smith and Kenneth Ho of Westside Investment Partners. (Watson has subsequently raised much more money and has amassed the biggest campaign war chest of any council candidate to date in this election cycle according to the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Campaign Dashboard.)
Thus, in spite of the Watson For Denver ad’s lofty rhetoric about advocacy for parks, supporters of protecting Park Hill Golf Course as open space need to know that they may not be able to count on him to deliver on their wishes. Instead, Mr. Watson’s candidacy could be just a Trojan Horse for the developers.
John Brink, District 9, Park HillAs a fifth generation Denverite and longtime Park Hill resident, I am deeply concerned about the welfare of our neighborhood and the outcome of the upcoming Denver mayoral election. The redevelopment of the Park Hill Golf Course has become an extremely divisive issue among the neighbors of Park Hill, and will undoubtedly have a significantly disproportionate impact on the upcoming election.
I am in support of the redevelopment of the Park Hill Golf Course, because the development of this private property will address several of our city’s most urgent needs. However, whether one supports the redevelopment or not, it is shortsighted and reckless to pick our city’s next mayor based on this one, single issue.
As the only candidate in this election who had to take an official, public stance on the development, Councilwoman Debbie Ortega had to take a controversial position on a decisive — and divisive — issue, while most of her opponents in the mayoral race have been allowed to remain conspicuously silent about their stances on the redevelopment.
This isn’t a matter of supporting green space. Debbie has been a tireless supporter of parks and green space. She’s fought to expand Denver’s park systems, especially in low income neighborhoods. She has stood up to developers and city officials, protecting and preventing the development of over
1,000 acres of land designated to be parks. With that said, she is also committed to increasing affordable housing options. Debbie helped establish eviction defense and affordable housing funds, and has connected hundreds of Denverites with permanent, stable housing as board president of the Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corporation. She truly has the best interests of the people of Denver at heart and isn’t afraid of taking a difficult political decision. Regardless of one’s stance regarding the Park Hill Golf Course, Debbie
This is my daughter Evie, with Ms. Amy. She had Ms. Amy last year. She was the best and taught with her whole heart. I’m forever grateful she was in our lives. She will be so missed.
Kara Nicklas, Park HillOrtega is the leader that Denver needs. She deserves your vote.
Robert J. Bruce, Attorney-at-Law, 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.
When my kids were at Park Hill, I used to help give school tours to prospective families. I’d take them to Amy Maes’s room and her carpet. I’d tell them about the time I walked into Ms. Amy’s classroom after a time change, and there was a little one curled up and asleep on the rug while the rest of the class was quietly doing a read-aloud in another part of the room. Ms. Amy told me he clearly needed some rest, so he was getting the rest he needed. She met each student where they were so she could give them what they needed to succeed, and she always did it while modeling kindness and compassion. The world is a little darker without Ms. Amy.
Michelle Scott, former Park Hill parent Editor’s note: These remembrances were submitted in response to the passing of Park Hill Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Amy Maes, who died unexpectedly in February. A story about Ms. Amy’s impact on the community appeared last month and can be read at this link: greaterparkhill.org/news-and-opinion/remembering-ms-amy/
By Reid Neureiter
For the GPHN
It was big and flashy, glitzy and a little raunchy — Chicago as it should be.
In March, more than 100 student actors, dancers, singers, musicians from the East High Theatre Company put on four enthralling performances of the Broadway musical Chicago. The shows, directed by theater teacher and East Company Artistic Director Deborah Voss and student Director Lillian McGlothlen, with choreography by Paige Farlow, were an impressive demonstration that the theatrical arts remain strong at East High.
Set in the roaring 20s, Chicago tells the story of the fame-crazed Roxie Hart, who is sent to Chicago’s Cook County jail after murdering her faithless lover and ends up in a cell block with the calculating Velma Kelly, Matron Mama Morton, and a felonious group of Merry Murderesses. Velma and Roxie are competitors for the spotlight, both in prison and out, and their tales are told to the gullible public and the easily swayed juries by the flashy criminal defense lawyer Billy Flynn.
The production ran over four nights, from March 2 through 5. Voss had to step away during preparation of the production for health reasons but was able to return to see the final performance. She described the extraordinary effort that goes into putting on a Broadway-level production at East High.
“The process begins in November with auditions and callbacks,” she noted. “Be-
fore winter break, we meet as a cast and hand out scripts and read through additional parts for casting. Once students return for the second semester, we hit the ground running. We are in rehearsal each school day from 3:45 to 6:45 every day for two months.”
Voss explained that East’s annual musical is one of the largest co-collaboration events at the school. In all, 65 cast members, 30 technical students and 45 orchestra students, plus various other student volunteers, worked together to pull off the production. The cost — including the elaborate sets that were built by students — is in the range of $40,000. The expense is covered by students’ activity fees, ticket sales and
donations. Voss said an estimated 2,500 people came to see the production.
Voss singled out two students for special praise. Director “[McGlothlen] was the driving force behind the organization, vision and creativity of the production.”
And, senior Macy-Caroline Matens played the only lead role that was not double cast. “Not only was [Matens] a lead but she was also one of the main choreographers of the production,” Voss said. “[She] is extremely talented, a kind person and brilliant young performer. I can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the coming years.”
Voss noted that the February shooting and death of East High student Luis Garcia cast a pall over the school, including the preparation for and production of the musical. Garcia had not been a part of the Chicago production. However, his fellow students in the performing arts community, Voss said, “realized that they had the job of most entertainers in trying
times; give the audience and community a departure from the negative.”
Student Director McGlothlen included this reminder in the program notes about the satirical melodramatic musical: “The world around us is turbulent, but if there is ever a silver lining it’s this: for every deadly sin, immoral person, or act of evil — there’s always someone and something that can bring hope and love into your world.”
LEADERSHIP YOU CAN TRUST
Candi is a 5th generation Denverite who knows our history, shares our values & has fought tirelessly for our community. She's a social worker, celebrated community leader and policy expert. She leads daily on housing, environmental & economic justice.
Park Hill is new to D9, but not new to Candi. She has always served Park Hill.
As the first elected official from Swansea and the first queer Latina on Denver City Council, Candi has transformed local government by making its inner workings accessible to the public, building community power, re-centering the margins, dismantling oppressive systems, fighting against corruption, and challenging our city agencies to innovate. Some notable highlights include:
Passed Bill 21-0529: Eviction Defense
Right to Counsel
Passed Bill 22-1614: Wage Theft
Penalties
Divested from private prisons & abusive contractors
Bringing 1st community-owned grocery store in 50+ years to food desert
Expanded STAR mental health first responders
Passed air-quality protections at state level with environmental justice coalition
Denver is at a critical juncture. We need leaders we can trust who will put people & the planet at the center of city policy. We need leaders with a vision who will plan for our future with an appreciation for our history & an eye on opportunity & real stability.
Candi understands that all neighborhoods want the same things clean air/water/land, high quality food/shelter/work/resources, a sense of belonging, and decision-making power over the future of their neighborhoods.
HOUSING & NEW ECONOMY HOUSING & NEW ECONOMY
-Housing for all & responsible growth
-Stability in the cost of living
-Worker & tenant protections
-Employee & consumer-owned business
SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
SAFE & HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
-Public health approach to safety
-Holding polluters accountable
-Protect & expand green spaces
-Safe streets for people, not just cars
GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE GOVERNMENT THE PEOPLE
-Community voices first
-Trust people's lived expertise
-Transparency & civic education
- Expand public participation
tinctly serves their needs. Our team begins each project ready to listen – without preconceived ideas of what a library ‘should be’ – and we translate what we hear into a tailored design.”
“By bringing together diverse voices –including those from marginalized communities – built environments can also be more welcoming to people of all races, ethnicities, abilities, ages, and identities.”
In addition, Anderson Hallas specifies its commitment to sustainability, regardless of the scope of the project. “We understand that sustainable design has a broad reach, impacting the health and well-being of people and the environment, reducing costs for operations and maintenance, and creating flexible spaces that serve the needs of today and tomorrow.”
At Pauline Robinson, we’ve been extremely happy with the work Anderson Hallas has done so far. Construction is scheduled to begin in September, and will take anywhere from nine months to a year to complete. The library will be closed during the renovation, and customers will be directed to visit other facilities.
You’ve seen other Jumping spiders in these pages previously, but never this type of Jumping spider. There are so many types of jumpers that we could run a photo of a different species every single day and still not be done after 16 years. Jumping spiders constitute the family Salticidae, which contains more than 6,000 described species — making it the largest family of spiders. All Jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes. One of those pairs is quite prominent, making it easier to distinguish from other spiders. This jumper was photographed in Ecuador by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein.
By Leslie Williams Pauline Robinson Librarian
In honor of National Architecture Month this month, I am pleased to share some insights and updates from the architects of our upcoming library renovation and addition.
Based in Golden, Anderson Hallas Architects has more than 30 years experience designing and renovating libraries and other buildings, including remodels, additions, new construction, and adaptive reuse. They have designed the public libraries in Gunnison, Norwood, Breckenridge and Ignacio.
Construction is scheduled to begin in September, and will take anywhere from nine months to a year to complete.
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“From day one, our passion has been to serve the public sector, and we are driven by design that connects and empowers communities – including libraries, city halls, justice centers, and parks facilities, says the firm’s principal, Wells Squire. Anderson Hallas’s website, anderarch. com, details the principles their architects apply to community engagement and how they pursue public projects. “The rapidly changing vision of what a library can be offers a great opportunity for a community to participate in creating a place that dis-
I sent the firm some additional questions specific to our project, and Wells Squire provided the following responses.
Leslie Williams: What was the design approach to designing for the Pauline Robinson branch library?
Wells Squire: Our first step with our public buildings is to reach out to the local community for their thoughts and vision for the library. We worked with the city to hold a series of outreach events, had an outreach specialist physically in the space for a series of listening sessions, and sent out flyers in multiple languages to try and draw in opinions and thoughts from as many community members as possible. This outreach allowed the design team to focus on the good bones of the building and work to expand features and assets that had become key components of the building, such as the storytime tree, the front yard and the multipurpose room. This had the added benefit of freeing up more space in the current building for additional room for library functions.
LW: What is the best input you can have that assists you in developing a building?
WS: First and foremost, how do you want to feel when you enter and use the building? Everything about the type of uses in the building and what it takes to construct it can be formed around.
LW: What were the challenges with the design you have done for the Pauline Robinson branch?
WS: One of the biggest challenges was ensuring that the final product made the highest and best use of the public-funded bond issue to ensure the community got the most value out of this investment. Working as a larger team with library and city staff to meet this objective, we believe that the remodel and addition will be a fantastic investment in the local community. Our hope is this public investment further contributes to the community core that has developed in this area with the nearby Center for African American Health, the Vickers Boys & Girls Club, and the Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center and continue to serve as a vital resource for the community.
Pauline Robinson Branch Library
After School is Cool | Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays | 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Join us at After School is Cool on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for crafts, games, STEM and more. Program is for ages 7-12.
Drop In Tech Help | Wednesdays, April 5, 12, 18, 26 | 2:30-3:30 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 on any device? Drop by and get your questions answered and learn how to use tech more effectively.
Park Hill Branch Library
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays, 10:30-11 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers.
Toddler Storytimes| Fridays, 10:15-10:45 a.m., repeated at 11-11:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers. Please only attend one session a day to allow others a chance to participate.
TAB| Tuesdays, April 4 and 18, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Anyone 6th-12th grade are welcome to join and help with library programming and resources geared towards teens. Magic the Gathering Club | Fridays, 4:305:30 p.m.
A teen run Magic the Gathering Club for other teens.
Kids Chess Club| Saturdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Chess club hosted by Charlie Keglovitz. Open to people 18 and under.
Writing Circle | Thursdays, 1:30-3 p.m.
Who are you writing for? Join our circle to hone your writing skills and share your work.
No Strings Attached Book Chat| Saturday, April 1, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Elders Oral History Event| Saturday, April 8, 1-4 p.m.
History Colorado is committed to preserving and sharing the stories of Black communities. We need your help to preserve and share elders’ stories as part of the Colorado record. This workshop will review the basics of oral history work, how to work with technology and how to donate an elder’s history to the state’s collection.
Arab American Heritage Month: Islamic Geometric Art | Wednesday, April 12, 11 a.m.-noon
Get a basic introduction to Islamic Geometric Art and learn how to create your own.
Kids Book Celebration | Thursday, April 20 4-5 p.m.
We have changed the format of our monthly book club to a monthly book celebration for kids in kindergarten* through 5th grade. The club meets the third Thursday of every month. We explore a book or series every month and do activities and crafts related to what we read. (*Parents of young children need to attend with their child.)
Dia del Nino (Day of the Child) | Tuesday, April 25, 4-5 p.m.
We will have fun breaking open a piñata filled with candies and toys and then each child can make their own paper bag piñata to take home for more fun. While supplies last.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Pauline Robinson branch library is at 5575 E. 33rd Ave., and the Park Hill branch library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. For hours of operation and additional upcoming programs for both neighborhood libraries, visit denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming, and select the facility you are planning to visit.
Beginning in June 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated an investigation into the possible link between pet food and the development of a heart disease they tagged as non-heritable Dilated Cardiomyopathy (nhDCM) initially and are now calling Diet-Associated Cardiomyopathy.
The original investigation started because veterinary cardiologists across the country were noting a significant increase in the diagnosis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in breeds not typically associated with heritable DCM. For many of these patients, the only common potential link was diet: grain-free, boutique or exotic recipes, called non-traditional diets.
After some mild slowing during the pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration recently released their fourth research update on this ongoing research as frequently asked questions. Based on recent data, the pace of case diagnoses has potentially slowed down. Another possibility is less reporting is reaching the FDA. The data shows that 255 dogs were reported with DAC as of November 2022, plus the 1,100 previously diagnosed by July 2020. About 20 cats were also included in the initial FDA reporting. At this time, the agency will continue to investigate but is discontinuing regular public updates.
The veterinarians and industry scientists’ efforts to get to the root of this issue have culminated in over 16 peer-reviewed published articles with more to come. So, what has the research shown us?
That we still don’t have all the answers.
DCM has more than one cause and can have variable outcomes based on the individual. It is a serious, irreversible disease of the heart muscle and the second-most common heart disease in dogs. It is also one of the more common causes of sudden death in dogs from undiagnosed disease. Until recently, it was considered primarily a heritable disease in giant and large breed dogs such as Doberman Pinschers, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes and Boxers. The new research is showing that there may be more genes that can convey some additional heritable issues, but this is currently very preliminary.
Additionally, the research shows that dogs can develop secondary DCM as a sequala to certain medications, infections or nutritional causes. Nutritional deficiencies are a continued research focus.
What is unique about all the secondary forms of the disease is that they can affect any dog breed and are not limited to the breeds known for hereditary DCM. What is good is that secondary DCM from nutritional causes improves with diet changes; something not true of the other secondary nor heritable forms of the disease.
One absolute from the research is that any dog on a home-prepared diet is that that diet needs to be formulated by a boarded Veterinary Nutritionist. Homeprepared diets are always nutritionally unbalanced unless based on a strictly followed recipe from a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist with supplements to meet nutritional needs for not just the heart, but the whole body.
Commercial grain feed diets are another ongoing research focus that does not yet have clear answers. The ingredients used to make up the loss of the value and bulk of grains in a diet — called pulses from legumes such as peas, lentils, etc. — are still a concern but we do not yet know if specific breeds, specific volumes or types of pulses are culprits.
And, to complicate things, the development of secondary nutritional DCM has a variable time to presentation (a few months to many years), variable severity and not every dog eating a non-traditional or grainfree diet develops heart issues. Key will be the results of research into when nonsymptomatic disease develops and how to screen as the diagnosis is an advanced stage of heart disease.
Your best course right now as an owner? Discuss with your veterinarian what diets are best for your cat or dog, review the label with them and, if your pet needs a homecooked diet, ask for referral to a boardcertified Veterinary Nutritionist.
We’ll keep watching the updates as research continues.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit parkhillvet.com
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.
"Thomasstrewstheincreasingly suspensefulcompetitionwith teachablemomentsandtraces learningcurvesnotonlyforthe studentsbutforteachersand parents,too."
For most of my life, I’ve pushed boundaries. I’m a law-abiding rule-breaker by nature, which means I test the limits, but not to the point where I cross the legal line. Oh, okay. I occasionally speed on the highway, especially on long road trips when it’s just me and 1,000 miles of straight asphalt.
But while I’m more than comfortable going up against the status quo, I’ve also spent most of my life in a world of familiarity, which, I always thought, was sort of the arbiter of control and certainty. My old career — food journalism — was second nature to me and I had it dialed in. It was formulaic, and I could write a restaurant review in my sleep.
Then I got this job, and everything changed. I’ve never loved a job more than this one and, in part, it’s because there are times when it makes me uncomfortable, insists I take risks out of my wheelhouse, fuels my curiosity and challenges me to relinquish control. It’s the exact opposite of formulaic and certain.
In mid-March, I moderated a 90-minute city council forum comprised of eight District 8 and 9 candidates. Terrified is an understatement. As a relative newcomer to Park Hill, I felt woefully unprepared, so I read everything I could get my hands on, stayed awake until the wee hours of the morning researching the subjects of the more than 50 questions submitted by attendees and studied the candidates and their platforms. I prepped out loud until my voice was hoarse. There were a few times I thought I might throw up. That’s how nervous I was.
But you know what? That thing I was holding at arm’s length and had initially dreaded, resulted in one of the most enlightening, joyful and — dare I say it — fun experiences I’ve ever had. Did I crush it? No, I fumbled a few words here and there, but the risk was more than worth the reward.
There’s no doubt that the dozens of months living in nearisolation because of COVID-19 did a number on our psyches. Many of us are still recovering from that bubble of loneliness. But with spring in the air, and a spring in our step, there’s an enormous opportunity to rejuvenate our lives, tiptoe out of our comfort zones, expand our horizons and become involved in causes and activities that make a difference.
It can begin with something as simple as saying “hello” to a stranger. It can start with volunteering. In fact, we have several volunteer opportunities at GPHC, including sprucing up our patio garden and greenhouse, lending a hand during our annual Garden Walk on Sunday, June 11, distributing fresh produce during our summer farm stand, promoting GPHC at the 4th of July Parade or joining the committee that pulls off our annual Home Tour and Street Fair in September.
We start the planning process for the Home Tour and Street Fair in May, and we’re looking for a few dedicated folks who want to be involved in what has become our largest fundraising event of the year. If you’ve never volunteered before, I highly encourage you to get involved. Take the leap — it’s so worth it. And no experience is necessary.
A lot of us are hesitant to speak up, fearing our voices won’t be heard. We want to
hear your voice. Your opinions, ideas and concerns matter to us, and we want to give our neighbors a voice. If you’re in bubble, burst it and attend our monthly community meetings. The next one is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 6. Along with presenters, we have an open floor to give citizens a platform to ask questions and talk about what matters most to them.
Stop by our office at 2823 Fairfax St. and introduce yourself. We want to meet you. And if you happen to have a few donations
• Boxes of dry cereal
• Bags of white rice
• Cans of diced tomatoes
• Jarred pasta sauce
• Canned fruit (peaches, pineapple, mandarin oranges and mixed fruit)
• Shelf-stable cartons of milk
• Canned tuna, salmon and sardines
• Baby formula
• Granola bars and kid-friendly snacks and juice boxes
• Canned and jarred salsas
• Taco shells and tortillas
• Cooking oils
Donors
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
Mayfair Liquors
Messiah Community Church
Park Hill United Methodist Church
Park Hill Branch Library
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Starbucks / Glendale Target Starbucks / 29th Street Town Center
Augustana Lutheran Church
Cake Crumbs Bakery
Janey and Harmon Alpert
Annie and David Pratt
Penny Ashley-Lawrence
Cathy Bauchwitz
Simon Blamires
Zana Brown
Jennifer Calderone
Inga Calvin
Casey Guber and Erika
Burke
Christine and Daniel Allen
Frederica Crews
for our emergency food pantry, we’d love to have them. The list below details our current needs.
As we embrace the onset of spring, embrace yourselves, too, and build on the momentum that inspires you to try something new and unfamiliar. Be bold!
As always, thank you to our wonderful members, donors and volunteers for your ongoing support. We appreciate you all so much.
• Eggs
• Bags and blocks of cheese
• Fresh vegetables (potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes and salad greens)
• Frozen proteins (chicken, fish, ground beef and pork)
• Toiletries
We accept food and toiletry donations between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and between noon and 5 p.m. on Tuesdays. We also accept donations by appointment. If you’d like to schedule a donation outside of our office hours, please send an email to director@ greaterparkhill.org, or call 303-388-0918. Out of respect for our clients, we kindly ask that you only donate items that have not expired. Thank you for your understanding.
Jenna Cruff
Emma Cummings
Carrie Davis
Martha and Bruce Douglas
Duane and Jean Gall
Beth and Robert Duncan
Jennifer Dyer
Anne & Joe Frank
Mary Frost
Christina Garrison-Diehn
Bobbi Gillis
Princess Gray
Lisa Haddox
Simon and Elizabeth Hambidge
Amy Harris
John Hayden
Deborrah Jackson
Bill Juraschek
Dirk Lashnits
Lola and Arlen Hershberger
Leslie Madsen
Matthew and Elizabeth
Spohn
Sheila and John McMullen
Harriet Mullaney
Chris and Erin Nielsen
Glenna O’Neal
Betty Peterson
Mark Pressey
Samantha Lehni Reeves
Richard and Noni Horwitz
Louann Sakala
Mary Salsich
Ellen and Andy Selig
Beverly and Peter Skram
Jean and Rob Socolofsky
Mary Jo Starmer
Stephanie Wasserman and David Fine
Christopher Stewart
Thomas E Street
Michele Swenson
Wendi Torres
Jane Wainwright
Kristen Whealon
Linda Will
Dean and Marsha Woodward
Elizabeth Case
Abby Dice
Food Pantry Volunteers
Deb Rosenbaum
David Addor
Emily Clark
Linda Lovell
Beverly Miller
Ruth Ann Russell
The Board of Directors of GPHC, Inc.
The 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.
The GPHC board is comprised of volunteer at-large representatives, as well as 10 district representatives. If you are interested in volunteering or serving on a committee, contact current GPHC Board Chair Shane Sutherland at chair@greaterparkhill.org for details.
The following are current board members, and their best contacts. Many representatives prefer to be contacted through the main office, at 303-388-0918 or info@ greaterparkhill.org. The GPHC world headquarters is at 2823 Fairfax St.
If you have an issue you’d like to discuss about the neighborhood, contact your board representative.
For those board members who don’t have a phone or email contact listed, leave a message at the main GPHC number and it will be forwarded to your elected representative.
• Board Chair Shane Sutherland: chair@greaterparkhill.org
• Secretary and Zoning/Property Use Chair Bernadette Kelly
• Treasurer Heather Shockey
• District 1 Amy Harris
• District 2 Brenda Morrison
• District 3 Heather Shockey
• District 4 Currently vacant
• District 5 Sophie Milam
• District 6 Phebe Lassiter
• District 7 Jon Bowman
• District 8 Nam Henderson
• District 9 Doug Schuler
• District 10 Colette Carey
• At Large Maria Flora
• At Large Shanta Harrison
• At Large Tracey MacDermott
• At Large Laurel Mohr
• At Large Louis Plachowski: lplachowski@gmail.com
• At-Large Leslie Twarogowski
• Youth Services Chair Rick Medrick
• Blessed Sacrament Rep. James Groves
• Park Hill United Methodist Rep. Jacqui Shumway
police accountability to our community and Reinforce police accountability to our community and Structure public safety to address the cycle of Structure public safety to address the cycle of poverty on our streets. poverty on our streets.
Free morning beginner Tai Chi classes on Zoom every Friday at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Register at taichidenver.com/ beginner-tai-chi-zoom-class/. Longtime Park Hillians Jacqui and Joe, who teach the class, will send you the link to join. 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, conversationalpaced community walk. Everyone is welcome to join. Submit
Curiosity Never Retires! OLLI at DU returns
In Person to Park Hill UMC: March 28th. 8-week, 6-week and 4-week courses on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and afternoons. Asian Philosophy and Martial Arts, Current Events, Challenging the Big Bang, Liberalism and Its Discontents, A Dream of Justice: The Story of Keyes vs Denver Public Schools, WWI: Mideast Theatre, Stories of Turning Points, Integrative Medicine and Austerlitz, A Novel. Hurry and call Jacqui Shumway, Park Hill OLLI Coordinator 303-725-7482 to enroll. Ask about our Park Hill Buddy system. On-line options available.
Aeration – Sod fertilizer – Power rake – Lawn mowing, Rototilling – Hauling –Stump removal – Weed control – Lawn mower repair – Shrubbery care – Small trees removed 720-327-9911
Masonry Services- Brick, Stone, Concrete, restoration, tuckpointing, chimneys, retaining walls, city sidewalks. Licensed, bonded, and insured. www.thebrickandstoneguy.com References. Call Shawn 303-907-9223
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 720-485-7207 or jpabz04@gmail.com
THE WALL REBUILDERS Interior plaster (and drywall) repair. We repair cracks, holes, crumbling walls, etc. Specializing in older homes, though we fix houses of every age. Dan and Laura Pino 303-698-1057
ROOfINg
Residential reroofing and repairs, 17 years experience, licensed, bonded, and insured. Gutter replacement and cleaning. Call Shawn 303-907-9223
Affordable ski and snowboard waxing and tuning. Providing pickup and delivery to your residence. TEXT BRETT 303-5506166 www.centralparkskiboardtuning.com
tUCKPOINtINg
Over 25 years 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
wINDOwS
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. 40-year resident of PH. Contact David - 720-550-2786
tO ADVERtISE IN thE CLASSIfIEDS CONtACt BRENDA MORRISON newspaper@greaterparkhill.org 720-287-0442 (voicemail) the deadline for submitting a classified ad is the 15th of every month
Design and Renovation Specialists
