There’s an old saying: If the third time’s a charm, the fourth is routine.
Try convincing the Denver East boys soc cer team or its fans that old chestnut would even begin to apply to their thrilling Nov. 12 victory over the Fairview Knights. Amid the familiar “Ha-Lo-Lo” chants from the
When a small group of women gathered in 1909 in a new Romanesque-style stone building standing proudly on what was then windswept open prairie, they never could have imagined what the site would become more than a century later.
Those 59 women were the entering class of Colorado Women’s College, which grew over the years to become part of the Univer sity of Denver in 1982. In 2000, it became the Denver campus of Johnson & Wales University.
Today — a year-and-a-half after the 25acre site was purchased for $30 million by the Urban Land Conservatory, Denver Housing Authority and Denver Public Schools — the Mosaic Community Cam pus is emerging as an innovative home for affordable housing, education and more.
“We saw a future for the campus as a diverse, inclusive collaboration of people, groups, and organizations uniting to cre ate a place for quality education, afford able housing, economic development, the arts and gathering,” said Amelia Wiygul, spokeswoman for the Denver-based Urban Land Conservatory.
By Cara DeGette Editor, GPHN
Every month for 62 years – rain, snow, sunshine or pandemic – the award-winning Greater Park Hill News has brought you the news of the neighborhood. We rely on our advertisers — who are the best and most loyal in town — to keep us in the black. We have a unique blockworker program that allows us to distribute the newspaper for free, to 13,000 homes and businesses. (See page 2 for more on that.)
Yet, as is true for many newspapers, the pandemic and other economic realities have inspired — indeed, necessitated us — to broaden our funding base. That brings us to you, dear readers.
This month, we have joined forces with 33 other media outlets throughout Colo rado as part of a month-long campaign spotlighting the need for trustworthy, independent journalism. From now until Dec. 31, the Denver-based Colorado Media Project will match, dollar-for-dollar, the first $5,000 that we raise.
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The name Mosaic was chosen, Wiygul says, to capture the idea that each piece of the campus creates a community hub to “provide a place for people to advance their dreams and careers, connect with each other and truly thrive.”
She added that the campus is open to the public through the preservation of green spaces and historic architecture. In con trast, the Providence, R.I.-based Johnson & Wales sold one of its other campuses in Miami to commercial developers, who are turning it into retail space and market-rate apartments.
During recent visits, the new Mosaic campus remains largely quiet except for a boisterous din from children playing at recess outside St. Elizabeth’s School. The K-8 Episcopal school relocated from its old site west of City Park in 2021. The vibe will change dramatically in the coming years, when scores of families and individuals move into the converted campus dormito ries, joined by hundreds of students from Denver School of the Arts who will move across Montview Boulevard to their own expanded Mosaic digs.
The Urban Land Conservatory is part nering with the Denver Housing Authority and the nonprofit Archway Communities to convert the former dormitories on the east side of campus into apartments for low-income families. Archway will de velop and manage the four dorms, which will be remodeled into 154 rental studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms and threebedrooms.
Leslie Rutherford, Archway communi cations director, said the project is sched uled for completion in early 2024. The apartments will be reserved for individu als whose income is within 30 percent to 60 percent of the area median income. Under current Denver guidelines for area
The campaign — called #newsCOneeds — is designed to inspire people to support continued on page 2
long-term sustainability of public-service journalism, which informs and engages communities and strengthens civic en gagement statewide. For the first $5,000 we raise, we will get $5,000 more from the Colorado Media Project — and we are hop ing to raise even more. All the money will go toward continuing and building our newspaper operations.
Your support enables us to continue to deliver critical news of the neighborhood – from in-depth news and thoughtful in
formation about local government, librar ies and schools, to opinions and stories that highlight local businesses, culture, charac ters and happenings in Denver’s best neigh borhood.
Whether it’s $5 or $500, every contribu tion will help, and is appreciated. To do nate, go to greaterparkhill.org/donate/. Thanks for helping to keep your neigh borhood newspaper thriving and free to readers!
The Greater Park Hill News is a Colorado Press Association-member general circula tion newspaper that is published monthly.
Our goal is to produce a lively, interest ing, readable and relevant newspaper that reflects the values and current events of Greater Park Hill and covers issues that impacts the broader Denver metro area. We welcome contributions, and strive for inclusion and community engagement.
Individual newspapers are delivered via a blockworker program to residences in Park Hill, as well as businesses in the neighbor hood and surrounding areas. (Make sure to check out next month’s issue for more on how the delivery system works, as well as meet several of our blockworkers — some of whom are brand new to the job and some of whom have been doing it for years.
Check out page 15 for a list of all of the businesses who have advertised in the newspaper this year. The next time you pa tronize one of these businesses, please let them know you appreciate their advertising choice – it means the world to us.
The following are additional resources for the Greater Park Hill News – your neighborhood newspaper. Thanks for con tributing to the conversation, and thanks for your readership.
Got a hot news tip? Want to pitch a sto ry or idea? Are you interested in writing a news or feature story, or submitting a guest opinion piece? Contact Editor Cara DeGette at editor@greaterparkhill.org or 720-979-4385.
We love your letters to the editor, and give preference to those that address an is sue that has been covered in the newspaper, or a topic that is Park Hill or Denver-specif ic. Send letters to editor@greaterparkhill. org, and include your full name, and the
neighborhood in which you live. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Deadlines are the 15th of each month, for the follow ing month’s issue.
Want to promote an upcoming neighbor hood event or program? Send all the details about the event to editor@greaterparkhill. org, including the who, what, where, when and why. Deadlines are the 15th of each month. Preference is given to events that are free and open to the public. Publication is based on space availability.
We strive for accuracy, but know occa sionally we can get something wrong. If you spot an inaccuracy or an item you believe warrants clarification, contact Editor Cara DeGette at editor@greaterparkhill.org.
To place an advertisement, contact ads@ greaterparkhill.org. The newspaper’s Me dia Kit, which includes pricing for vari ous sizes of ads, is in the “Advertise” tab at greaterparkhill.org/newspaper/. Deadlines are the 15th of each month, for the follow ing month’s issue.
The form for classified ads is in the Media Kit in the “Advertise” tab at greaterparkh ill.org/newspaper/. Contact newspaper@ greaterparkhill.org or 720-287-0442 with any questions or for additional informa tion. Deadlines are the 15th of each month.
The newspaper is distributed on the first of the month by neighborhood volunteers – called blockworkers. If you would like to be a blockworker, contact newspaper manager Brenda Morrison at newspaper@ greaterparkhill.org.
— Cara DeGette, Editor
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.
This newspaper is made possible through the support of our advertisers and members. If you are not already a member, please consider joining the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.
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median income, that translates to $24,650 to $49,300 for individuals and $28,150 to $56,300 for two-person households.
“We will open a wait list, likely late 2023, and we will have more information on our website when it is available,” Rutherford said. “We look forward to engaging with the community.”
The Denver Housing Authority acquired the the two former dorms at the south end of campus with plans to remodel them as affordable units for low-income residents, noting that 24 percent of families in the nearby East Colfax neighborhood are in poverty.
The Authority plans to remodel Trian golo Hall with 27 one-bedrooms and six two-bedrooms, and Gaebe Hall with 39 one-bedrooms. DHA plans to run Trian golo and is discussing a potential lease of Gaebe with city’s Department of Housing Stability. Details, such as a timeline and ap plications, will be announced in the com ing months on the DHA website.
The Denver School of the Arts will ex pand in fall 2024 to accommodate enroll ment growth. The magnet school for grades 6-12 currently has about 1,100 students studying creative writing, dance, band, or chestra, vocal music, stagecraft & design,
theater, video cinema arts and visual arts. Unlike other Denver Public Schools mag net programs that utilize lotteries, DSA applicants must audition to be accepted. Demand has far outpaced capacity, and the school board last year approved $30 million to expand. DPS spokesman Scott Pribble said up to 350 students across middle and high school will be added in 2024, with up to 700 more in following years. The Mosaic site will serve high school students, while middle schoolers will stay at the current DSA building across the street.
St. Elizabeth’s School, an Episcopalian K-8 school with a diverse enrollment of about 150 students, moved from its former location at 23rd Avenue and Gaylord Street to Mosaic in time for the beginning of the 2021 school year. The school occupies the historic Centennial Hall in the middle of campus. Originally named Treat Hall, it was built in the 1890s for Colorado Wom en’s College. The landmark building was shut down for 30 years until Johnson & Wales completed a $17 million renovation in 2015. St. Elizabeth’s made additional updates, converting the building into K-8 classrooms with a new outdoor playground.
Kitchen Network is a nonprofit that sup ports local food entrepreneurs by providing access to 10 commercial-grade kitchens as well as job training, networking, business develop ment and other services. Chefs and students prepare food for restaurants, food trucks, cater ing companies, shelters and the airport. Located on the east end of campus, Kitchen Network maintains a 43,560 square-foot facility with kitchens, class rooms and dining halls. It hosts a wide array of tenants and ser vices, including:
• Work Options, a nonprofit that trains adults whose challenges include recent incarceration or housing insecurity to develop
culinary skills, life skills and job readi ness in the food industry.
• The apprenticeship and associate degree programs of Rocky Moun tain Chefs of Colorado.
• Food preparation for can cer patients by Faeth Ther apeutics, a new researchbased firm that focuses on individually tailored nutrition designed to de prive tumors of nutrients while providing foods that support healthy tissues.
“We also will be opening a commissary here soon that will focus on incubation –helping people entering the food industry not only with culinary skills but with fi nances, licensing, permit ting — the kind of things that often prevent them from succeeding,” said Jorge de la Torre, director of culinary arts at Kitchen Network. De la Torre noted that about half of restaurant startups fail for reasons that have nothing to
do with the quality of their food.
Connecting with the neighborhood
Mosaic organizers hosted a block party Sept. 14 for Park Hill and the surrounding neighbor hoods that featured DSA student performances, food trucks and activi ties. More events to con nect with neighbors are coming as the campus takes shape.
“All the tenants here are committed to make this an open space for the public to come and enjoy,” said de la Torre, who was culinary dean at Johnson & Wales for 19 years prior to transition ing to Kitchen Network. “This is a second chance for this site — which could have been razed — to serve the commu nity in so many different ways.”
“We want people to feel warm and welcome.”
That’s how Catharina Hughey describes the goal of the new DIRT Coffee on the Mosaic Community Cam pus.
But the mission here is far different than a typical Den ver coffee shop.
DIRT stands for Diver gent Inclusive Representa tion Transforms. What that means is the shop is a social enterprise that creates paid internships, training and re tail experience for people with little or no work experience who have cognitive issues such as Down Syndrome, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), palsy, Tourette Syndrome or similar disabilities.
“We predominantly work with young adults,” said Hughey, executive director of DIRT. “We create an inclusive culture for them. The two biggest things we want them to take away from this experience is to develop confidence and be able to advocate for themselves.”
Hughey operates a DIRT Coffee in Littleton and opened the Mosaic location in September. Open to the public, it’s in the Kitchen Network building at 1785 Quebec St. (look for a small sign in front of the building on the east side of campus). DIRT is open Tuesday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. serving Huckleberry Roasters coffee, espresso and breakfast items such as burritos and pastries.
What drew her to Mosaic was the “work to learn” campus ethic that emphasizes education, personal development and commitment to underserved communities.
“It’s a great fit for us,” she said, crediting Kitchen Network for critical support beyond hosting the location. “Our values align really well together.”
For more information, such as the intern application process and other details, go to DIRTcoffee.org.
— Christopher Broderick
Park Hill is fortunate to have a popula tion that includes high-profile political ac tivists, social justice advocates, artists, ed ucators and community leaders. Our neighbors run the gamut, from the intelligent to the cre ative to the curmudgeonly. And our newspaper often reflects that.
Over the past year, we have covered a multitude of critical neighborhood issues – from the complex maneuvering by the city and developers who are intent to build out the Park Hill Golf Course land, to the city’s plan to build sidewalks (at last!). We were on the beat as the East High School hockey team became national champions — as we are this month, covering the soccer team win ning the state championship. (For a longer look back at 2022 in review, check out pages 9-11).
The year ahead is shaping up to be a rau cous ride. The April 4 Denver municipal election is in full swing, with 19 candidates — as of this writing — already in the race for mayor. One of them, Leslie Herod, who currently represents Park Hill in the state legislature, has been running full bore for mayor — while concurrently running for reelection in November to the legislature. How is that for bold?
We’re also looking at some expected doozies of showdowns in several Denver City Council races — including in council districts 8 and 9, which include Park Hill.
One issue that will be central to the up coming election is the future of the Park Hill Golf Course land. Last year Denver voters weighed in overwhelmingly in fa vor of keeping the property protected by its city-owned conservation easement. Despite that, expect Westside Investment Partners — which wants to develop the land — to launch a slick and glossy, bareknuckle campaign to convince voters to re verse their position in April. Expect us to continue to cover this critically important issue, as it unfolds in our backyard.
Beyond the election, much will be hap pening in the year ahead. Whether it is covering our local businesses, schools, sus tainability, neighborhood news and events, characters and happenings, you can also expect us to be there.
At their best, newspapers balance con troversial subjects via news and opinions, with feature pieces, photography, and the more lighthearted news of community that our neighbors have come to rely on. That’s what we strive for. In addition to our talent ed small newspaper staff, the Greater Park
Hill News includes the work of a dedicated team of contributing writers and photog raphers. The list is far too long to include everyone by name in this space, but here are a few:
Park Hill resident Reid Neureiter’s striking, award-winning pho tography is often accompanied with compelling stories, and they vary dramatically in sub ject matter — from high school sports to backcountry adven tures.
On the sustainability beat, Tracey MacDermott and Mark Kuhl provide the monthly foun dation for our dedicated cover age of the impacts of the climate crisis on the planet and all living beings.
This year marks Mark Silverstein’s eighth as a contributor with his wildly popular, award-winning Page 3 Birdland photo fea ture. Silverstein’s images of avian life have been imitated — but never replicated — by at least one other local publication. As they say, imitation is the best flattery. Silverstein has also branched out with a monthly Bu gland feature, capturing macro images of tiny critters.
Penfield W. Tate III has provided insight ful political commentary for many years. That said, starting last month, we’ve paused Tate’s column for the time being, as he is one of those aforementioned candidates, running for an at-large city council seat in April.
Every month the librarians at the Park Hill and Pauline Robinson branches take turns providing library news and events. Leslie Williams and Tara Bannon William son have been joined this year by Rachel Reddick and Suzanne Gelwick-Knight, and their contributions are superb.
For three years, Anya Nitczynski has provided monthly views from a youth per spective. Park Hill Vet’s Dr. Margot Vahr enwald writes a column about caring for our furry friends. Former Greater Park Hill Community Executive Director Lana Cordes faithfully reported on the activi ties at world headquarters of the registered neighborhood organization. Lori Midson, who took over the position in October, has resumed the monthly updates.
For several years Park Hill Garden Walk organizer Jean Ercolani provides volumi nous coverage of the annual June romp through neighborhood gardens. This year, Home Tour organizer Mary Salsich’s de scriptions of featured homes in the annual September event was lovely.
If you can, this month consider a do nation to our #newsCOneeds Campaign (greaterparkhill.org/donate/).
My thanks to all, for helping to make our neighborhood newspaper what it should be — a shared experience and a must-read.
By Tracey MacDermott For the GPHN
As the year ends, I hope we can all reflect on our successes, as well as our struggles. Indeed, we can revel in how far we have come. Adjusting to a post-pandemic world, we saw the passage of our nation’s first comprehensive climate bill, while renew ables worldwide saved more than 230 met ric tons of CO2 emissions.
Ahead of the global environmental conference COP27 in November, Norway raised its target of cutting emissions to 55 percent by 2030. Comparatively, the Infla tion Reduction Act sets the U.S. goals to approximately 40 percent. This was great news, however it falls short of the goal to limit warming to the critical goal of 1.5 degree Celsius. This is the target that sci entists say would keep the worst effects of global warming from occurring.
Even China, one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas producers, is working to offset emissions. It is building the world’s largest wind farm, which could singularly power 13 million homes. In the U.S., wind energy is the largest source of renewables, providing a little over 10 percent of electric ity and has contributed to one of the fastest growing job markets.
Germany passed a bill requiring sin gle-use plastic manufactures to pay into a central fund to help clean up litter strewn along streets and parks. What if our city and state adopted such a bill to help clean up our growing trash problem? I have heard from many neighbors and long-term Colo rado residents concerned about the trash, not just in our neighborhood and city but statewide.
This year our own neighborhood orga nization, Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. earned a Green Business Award. The newspaper you are holding in your hands was recognized with 19 awards for excel lence in journalism — including in the public service category for our sustained coverage of the climate crisis. We continue to receive recognition as an outstanding neighborhood in the Sustainable Neigh borhoods program. We have shown what a few committed people can accomplish when we work together.
These accomplishments are noteworthy and critical to solving the climate emergen cy and each one of us holds the power to do the same in our own lives. The holidays can easily derail good efforts if we mindlessly rush through the season.
During the holiday season, Americans throw out 25 percent more trash than usu al. Last month, in the aftermath of Thanks giving in America, 200 million pounds of turkey went uneaten, along with 30 million pounds of gravy. When that waste ends up in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
With one in 10 Coloradans suffering from food insecurity, surely all this food waste could go to help end this unneces sary suffering. In the weeks ahead, consider re-thinking your meal planning and help reduce the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere. Wasted food could be feeding others and at least repurposed into addi tional meals. This year, consider making less food for holiday celebrations, splitting with a family in need or skipping the big feast altogether and give back by volunteer ing your time.
The United States is the world’s largest consumer economy and the holidays kick it into full gear. Twenty three percent of U.S. emissions comes from the production of goods and raw materials. We all know that we can receive so much more from lasting impressions than items that eventually end up in a landfill.
If you want to give planet Earth a hand this year, consider gifts made with sus tainability in mind. Handmade gifts are treasures. Patagonia makes items from old clothes and offers gently used items. Dona tions to organizations are wonderful ways to honor our loved ones and provide assis tance to organizations in need. Plant a tree, adopt a beehive or browse second-hand stores. Donate to this newspaper in honor of a loved one. Shop locally. Your impact will benefit more than just the receiver of your gift.
’Tis the season of consumption but it does not have to be. We can change our mindset and begin new traditions of heal ing Mother Earth. Reducing our individual impact on this planet is the best gift we can all give to each other. Future generations will thank us.
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.
Denver Solid Waste Management only accepts recyclable materials that can be sorted quickly and cost effectively — and can ultimately be sold. Unaccepted items are considered trash, and when that gets mixed in it makes the sorting process inefficient and can pollute the recycle stream.
You may feel educated on what’s acceptable, but it’s worth taking a peek at the DenverGov.org recycling page for a refresher. The good news is that the acceptable materials list is grow ing. In 2017 the portfolio expanded to include milk cartons, and in 2018 paper coffee cups were added thanks to a Wis consin pulp mill that separates the plastic lining from the valuable paper. Value in our waste stream motivates recycling in novation, so expect the list of accepted materials to expand.
The single-stream sorting process is heavily automated. Although current technology is high throughout, it has low accuracy so significant human in
tervention is required to finish the job. First, cardboard and paper is separated out of the stream by rotating discs that kick these light materials up and on to a conveyor. Glass containers fall into bins and magnets attract metal cans. A special energized tumbler flings aluminum cans and foil containers out of the stream and an AI guided robot picks milk cartons and ice cream tubs off of the fast-moving con veyor.
Humans are required to re-route materials the automation missed and they unfortunately spend a lot of time pulling unrecyclable trash from the flow. Please follow the guide pasted to the top of your bin and visit the website for more insight on what is currently considered recyclable.
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 col umns for recycling everything from paint to Styrofoam to shoes is at greaterparkhill. org/sustainability/recycling-directory/.
ninety percent of the game.”
Second-seeded East’s domination of the championship final contrasted with the Angels’ nail-biting, come-from-behind, 2-1 semi-final win over third-seeded and undefeated Valor Christian three days ear lier. The match against Valor was evenly matched, with East senior goalkeeper Liam Sloan being forced into a series of heroic saves.
By contrast, in the Nov. 12 final against Fairview, Sloan was called into action only once for a single save. East was fortified by its massive fan support, with hundreds of East supporters at Weidner Field easily tripling the number of Knight fans. And when the final whistle blew, the East stu dent section began yelling in unison “Just Like Hockey!” — a reference to East’s state ice hockey title win this Spring.
A nervous East Principal Terita Walker paced the sidelines throughout the contest, proudly posing with the championship tro phy at the game’s conclusion. Bast gave huge credit to the East student section. “East soc cer fans are by far the best Twelfth Man in the state,” he said. “Nobody can touch East fans in terms of support.”
Kicking, continued from page 1
The 80 minutes of action were as spirited as any title match that came before.
three Colorado state championships and his girls squads captured five.
The title match against Fair view was played at Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs. East senior forward Tayler Secrest scored East’s only goal 17 minutes into the second half with a short-range poke-in of a crossed ball from freshman forward Pri shad Mitchell.
But throughout the game, the Angels thoroughly dominated possession with precise midfield passing, guided mas terfully by senior co-captain midfielder Ezekiel Lubin — who was also named the Colorado 5A player of the year by the Colo
rado High School Soccer Coaches Associa tion. East’s towering defenders, including standout brothers Charlie and Theo Scott (both of whom received All-State honors), squelched any chance that the 12th seeded Knights would equalize.
The championship win was the fourth state soccer title for the East boys, hav ing last taken the crown 11 years ago. It was also East Head Coach Kirk Bast’s first championship win during his nine years at East. He previously guided the Angels to the state semi-finals in 2016 and a finals loss to Broomfield in 2017.
Before joining East, Bast had been the head boys and girls soccer coach at Arapa hoe High, where his boys teams had won
On Nov. 12, given East’s control of mid field, strong wing play, and numerous scor ing chances, the game easily could have ended 3-0 for the Angels. Coach Bast was especially laudatory of his defense, saying that while the offensive players get lots of glory for scoring goals, “it all starts in the back.”
Of the five starting defenders Bast said, “Their ability to communicate and play off each other was phenomenal. You have five guys who read each other so well—that is
East finishes the season with a 18-1-1 re cord, with the only blemishes being an ear ly season 2-1 loss against then top-ranked Legacy and a tie against DPS rival George Washington.
East’s 5A title win was preceded earlier in the evening by fellow Denver Public Schools soccer power Northfield High’s successful defense of its 4A title with a dominating 3-0 win over Battle Mountain. Northfield concluded its second championship season with a 17-1-1 record, its only loss being a 4-0 defeat to East on Oct. 20. With both the 5A and 4A 2022 state titles, DPS can be justifi ably proud of their boys’ soccer teams.
I am so grateful to live and work in this community.
From my home to yours, I wish you a very happy holiday season.
“You have five guys who read each other so well—that is ninety percent of the game.”
— East Head Coach Kirk BastEast senior forward Tayler Secrest sprints past a Fairview defender while Head Coach Kirk Bast looks on during the 2022 title match. Secrest scored the game’s only goal. East senior forward Gus Sundstrom controls the ball with his chest during East’s 1-0 state title victory over Fairview. East High School Principal Terita Walker poses post-game with members of the newly-crowned boys Colorado class 5A state champions. East co-captain and senior midfielder Ezekiel Lubin heads the ball against Fairview. Lubin was named Colorado 5A Player of the Year by the Colorado High School Soccer Coaches Association.
It is not unusual to hear the sound of crunching tackles and fe vered calls to pass the football on a late fall afternoon at Denver’s city parks. But the “football” players at Denver’s Cook Park on Oct. 20 were East High girls without pro tective pads or helmets, and they were playing rugby football against Summit County, running and hitting hard.
utes with her pace, and during the Oct. 20 series against Summit County’s B-side, scored a num ber of “tries” (the rugby equivalent of a football touchdown) with long sprints down the sideline.
The girls rugby program, in existence for just five years, has 20 enrolled team members and is looking for more female athletes. According to founding manager and current Program Coor dinator Keri Peacock Wilson, the program is on the upswing in terms of both player numbers and parent support. In fact, the East girls team just finished second in the season-ending tourna ment to rugby powerhouse Summit County at the Air Force Academy on Nov. 9.
“I think that [a surge of interest] is due to the national growth, but also the culture of the team and sport,” says Peacock Wilson. “Rugby is an NCAA ‘emerging sport for women’, and we also now have young women [at East] who have been with the program through all four years of high school, which has provided a big boost in terms of experience.”
Peacock Wilson has had three step-daughters play East rugby, and herself played rugby start ing at age 14. “There is a space for every kind of person on a rugby team, no matter the size or quickness,” she says.
One of her step-daughters, Celeste Wilson, a 2018 East grad, says playing rugby “gave me a new sense of confidence in my body’s strength, appearance, and capabilities.
“Rugby gave me a community of wonder ful people to surround myself with — most of whom were badass independent women. The sense of empowerment I got from this sport was unmatched by any activity or community I’ve ever participated in.”
At 5’2”, East senior co-captain Jade Crichlow originally was going to play field hockey, but heard about the rugby club and decided to give it a try. Now, she has been playing four years and was just named to the Colorado All-State team.
“It is really empowering,” says Crichlow, “to know that I am able to tackle people twice my size. I used to underestimate my strength. But now, I have much better body control. I have to think about how I tackle people in a more stra tegic way.” On the field, Crichlow also contrib
On the other end of both the experience and height scales from Crichlow is freshman phe nom and Park Hill resident Lucy Walker who, at 5’11”, has been playing competitive rugby since age five, first encouraged by her rugby-playing father, Trey Walker. Lucy Walker, who also kicks for the East squad, was the only freshman named to the Colorado All-State team.
“Everyone, no matter the body type, can play,” she says. “There is a position for everyone. It is very much a team sport.”
Like all full contact sports, Girls rugby has risks. Wilson highlighted the cautionary steps the program has implemented, with an emphasis on head and knee safety. Crichlow noted there is a respect for the opponent that is an integral part of the ethic of the game, so every rugby player makes an effort to tackle fairly.
“In rugby, there is a different level of respect for the other team, compared to other sports. You want to tackle safely for the sake of the other player,” she says.
Peacock Wilson strongly encourages any interested female athlete to try girls rugby at East, “The program gives an opportunity for a high level of play and competitiveness at the high school level and beyond.” Wilson proudly noted that one of East’s seniors has re ceived a “likely” admis sion letter from Brown University as a rugby recruit.
Potential players or parents can contact the program via e-mail at denvereastgirlsrug by@gmail.com or visit sites.google.com/view/ denvereastgirlsrugby/ home.
Many things about this year screamed one thing: Relief.
Relief as in, being vaxxed and boosted, and boosted again, feeling comfortable enough to go back out to real, live gath erings. In Park Hill, many of the annual events and traditions were restored after a couple of years of pandemic shutdown.
The Community Yard Sale in May, the June Garden Walk, the summer-long Free Farm Stand, the 4th of July Parade, the Septem ber Home Tour and Street Fair, the firstever October Fall Fest in Axum Park. All of these happened, in-person with people gathering and having a good time.
The year in rear-view also included on going issues that land in the category of high-stakes.
A deep-pocket developer and his friends
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock was still a full 16 months from being term-lim ited from office, but many of his top staffers were already headed for the exit. Nearly a dozen Denver agency directors departed the year before — including the heads of Denver Human Services, the director of public safety, DIA manager Kim Day, the director of Transportation and Infrastruc ture, and the heads of Capital Planning and Real Estate, Economic Development and Excise and Licenses.
Seventeen endangered African penguins are strutting around their new digs at the Denver Zoo in City Park. The new habitat is intended to replicate the rocky beaches of western South Africa and Namibia, where
Benzina Restaurant at Colfax and Eudora, which used to be an old gas station.
Calderón booted
Westside Investment Partners continues its hard push forward to craft a development plan for the Park Hill Golf Course property. On Jan. 13, city officials purged the group Save Open Space from continued representation on the 27-member com mittee that is allegedly considering all op tions for the protected land, Specifically, Lisa Calderón, who unsuccessfully chal lenged Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock in his reelection bid three years ago, was booted from serving. (Calderón has since announced she is running for mayor in April, 2023.)
Colorado Boulevard, Mississippi Boy Cat fish and Barbecue at 33rd and Holly Street, and Jimmy Johnson’s Tax Service at 28th and Fairfax Street. The donor wished to remain anonymous.
at city hall have stepped up efforts to pave the way for high-density develop ment of the Park Hill Golf Course property — despite public sentiment expressed in polls and last year at the ballot box. The November mid-terms yielded sighs of relief for Democrats, espe cially in deep blue Colorado.
Many Denverites are re porting they’ve emerged from their pandemic co coons to find the world slightly altered, and not necessarily for the better.
Homelessness, a spike in crime, inflation and the cost of groceries are all heavy on minds. Even the local trash service rou tinely gets dinged for continually being a day late, a dollar short.
The following are a few highlights of the bigger, and the smaller, events that hap pened in our world this year.
this penguin species is struggling for survival.
Wild African penguin populations have de clined more than 98 per cent over the past century, from more than a million breeding pairs to just 25,000 pairs. The Denver Zoo is part of a program that fosters collaboration among zoos around the world, with the goal of helping endangered spe cies survive.
Two of 16 projects that received top honors for design excellence in 2021 were in Park Hill. The Mayor’s Design Awards included nods to the revamped business block of Oneida Park Center at 22nd and Oneida Street, and the highly-regarded
In an effort to boost Denver’s exceedingly low 26 percent recycling rate, the city an nounces plans to directly charge residential customers for trash pickup. Denver resi dents have, for many years, paid for trash and recycling pickup via property taxes. Beginning in January, 2023 residents will now also pay between $9 and $21 per month for pickup depending on the amount of trash they generate. Also beginning in 2023 residents will not be charged extra for com posting. Recycling pickup will increase to once a week.
In a move designed to show support for the com munity, for its newspaper and for minority-owned mom-and-pop owned busi nesses, a longtime Park Hill resident announced plans to subsidize six months worth of advertising in the Greater Park Hill News. Recipients of the unique program in cluded the owners of MyK ings Ice Cream at 33rd and
In a refrain echoed throughout Den ver, many Park Hillians are taking a look around the Mile High City — and not liking what they see. Writing a guest opinion, Gary Martyn weighed in on various affronts: “Something is obviously amiss in our lovely city. It’s dirty, it’s unwelcoming, and frankly, it has lost its vision. How about con centrating on smaller projects that will make everyday life better? Brainstorm a way to reroute semi trucks off of Quebec to get some traffic relief. Maintain the things we already have. Instead of traffic calming bollards, maybe write a few tickets to ac tually slow people down. Clean up graffiti. Try limiting the lofty ambitions, instead finish some of the projects that you have promised. Plant a bunch of trees. Build some parks. Put a shine back on the dusty old cowtown before it is forever tarnished.”
Political columnist Penfield Tate sliced and diced the Denver’s once-every-decade efforts to redraw the city’s City Council district — which ultimately determines which councilperson represents each of the Denver’s 11 districts. From a total of 15 maps initially submitted for consideration, the ultimate and final map divided Greater Park Hill into two districts — 8 and 9 — beginning in 2023.
The East High ice hock ey team was crowned Colorado State 5A cham pions and then contin ued its storybook season by winning the national championship. East High hockey’s championship trophy turned out to be a talisman for Colorado
East High hockey goalie Noel Friedman displays the state champion ship banner.
Denver officials rolled out a $2 million project to build 2.1 miles of concrete walk ways in sidewalk-deficient southeast Park Hill. The project involves building the sidewalks on both sides of Quebec Street between 12th Avenue and Montview Boulevard. Addi tional sidewalks will stretch along 17th Avenue between Monaco and Rosemary streets. While plenty of resi dents were overjoyed at the news, many were bedeviled by the details: The planned sidewalks are set to be a whopping 5- to 8-feet wide — which many describe as “overkill.”
Letter to the editor writer Elaine Granata bemoaned the disappearing Park Hill Cottage. “I’m saddened to see more and more of what I call ‘starter homes’ being scraped and replaced by Mc Mansions three times their size.” Granata writes.
Messiah Community Church Turns A Tragedy
Messiah Community Church members were horrified to discover that thieves had broken into the church, leaving a path of devastation that cost at least $300,000, in cluding destroying the church’s old boiler. But congregants were able to turn the trag edy into a green victory. Messiah’s minis try is focused on a deep commitment to the environment and being good stewards of the earth. They were delighted when they learned that replacing the 73-year old boiler system would reduce the church’s carbon footprint by a whopping 90 percent.
A late May snowstorm dropped and plopped several inches worth of heavy wet stuff in Park Hill, snapping limbs and leav ing many parts of the neighborhood with out power. There were a few reports of car damage — the result of parking on streets under mature tree canopies.
It was not a record-breaker by a long shot but a good reminder that every year Denver is more likely to get a late-season snowstorm than not.
Go (Back) To The Library And Be Amazed
Librarians from Park Hill’s two branches are ecstatic to welcome people back into the buildings — after a try ing year of pandemicinduced isolation.Park Hill Librarian Rachel Reddick reminds read ers of the samplings people will find inside — including the Library of Things. Yes, you can check out things like Colorado state park passes, Go Pros and sewing machines.
Celebrating Emancipation and Juneteenth
The Colorado Legislature adopted a bill, signed into law by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, making Juneteenth an official state holiday. The Colorado action comes a year after President Joe Biden signed biparti san legislation making June 19 a federal holiday. To celebrate, the Juneteenth street festival returned to Five Points after a pan demic hiatus.
Pride Returns, Along With Music and Joy 2022 also marked the return of Denver PrideFest from the dreary pandemic hiatus. The two-day festival draws celebrants from across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. (Estimated attendance in 2019 ex ceeded 525,000, marking the 50th anniver sary of Stonewall.)
Ditto the welcome return of City Park Jazz. The Denver summertime Sunday night tradition returned this year, kicking it off with a soul ful tribute to Ron Miles, the legendary Denver jazz musi cian and Park Hill resident who died in March.
Continuing the march of post-pandemic relief, the big gest 4th of July Parade in Den ver returned in all its grand glory. The 12th annual Park Hill Parade featured many of the crowd-pleasing favorites, including the Westernaires, Platinum Divaz Dance, Captain America, and many other merrymakers.
Takeaways From The Jan. 6 Committee
Political columnist Penfield Tate dis
sected the shocking realities from the first public hearing of the Jan. 6 Committee investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 insur rection and attack on the U.S. Capitol. The findings, he writes, show a concerted and intentional planned conspiracy to overturn the presidential election and overthrow our government. And at the center of it all stood the former president, with his outright lies about a stolen election, efforts to coerce elections officials to lie and filing several failed lawsuits. What this really is, Tate concludes, is a loser unwilling to accept the fact that he lost.
Double Vision: Denver Voters Will Decide
In the developer’s latest flex over the Park Hill Golf Course, West side Investment Part ners submitted its plan to the city for developing the property, including apartment buildings up to 12-feet tall, single fam ily homes, commercial space and a “main street.” (Noteworthy: There is no promise of a grocery store.) The developer also announced that up to 75 acres of the property (plus an existing 25-acre reten tion pond) would be parks and open space (a formula that includes the strips of grass between sidewalks).
Meanwhile the group Save Open Space Denver (SOS Denver), which supports transforming the former golf course into a regional park, also released a vision of possibilities for the property — including amenities like playgrounds, trails, an offleash dog area, community gardens, sports fields, basketball or pickle ball courts and a water park. A spokesman for the developer responded by publicly likening the plan to preserve the land as a regional park as “fifth graders showing up to present their art project to the classroom when the com petition is over.” The fifth grader crack un leashed an avalanche of criticisms — most of them aimed at the developer.
Was
No areas of Park Hill were spared by an Aug. 6 gully washer of a rainstorm that brought buried old creek beds to life, flooded streets and stranded motorists. Meteorologists estimated more than 1.5 inches of rain fell in less than a half-hour. The new $1.2 billion Central I-70 highway project, built partially below grade, was brought to its knees for sev eral hours after the new wa ter pumps that were part of the project failed to activate. Hundreds of motorists were stranded for several hours.
RTD Was Free In August: Look What Happened
The entire Regional Transportation District transit system was free to users all August. During the month — deemed Zero Fare for Better Air — RTD saw some 6.3 million board ings, which was a whopping 22 percent increase over July 2022, and a 36 percent jump from August 2021.
The 44th Annual Home Tour & Street Fair returned in its full post-pandemic glory, featuring in-person tours of seven featured Park Hill homes and an all-day street fair. The Park Hill Home Tour began in 1978, the brainchild of a local realtor designed to showcase the rich history and diverse architecture of the neighborhood.
From
After six months and 110 suggested new names, the former Johnson & Wales cam pus officially became the Mosaic Com munity Campus. Aaron Martinez, a vice president at the Urban Land Conservancy, which acquired the campus for multiple uses, said the suggestion stood out as the clear front runner. “[Mosaic] perfectly em bodies the campus goals of providing an accessible community hub for quality edu cation, economic development, and afford able living opportunities for people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and ethnicities.” Other possible names consid ered included Urban Commons, Park Hill Village Green, The Park Hill Community Campus, Justina Ford (after Denver’s first African American woman doctor) and Mosley Campus (after John and Edna Mos ley, early civil rights activists in Denver).
McAuliffe International Safe Routes
To School project — de signed to install improve ments to sidewalks and other safety measures for Park Hill children on their way to and from school — was delayed for the second time. The project includes safety improve ments along 23rd Av enue, 25th Avenue, and 26th Avenue, and Ke arney Street, and came about after neighborhood parents and community leaders voiced increas ing concerns over safety for students amid a sharp increase in neighbor hood traffic. Construction was originally planned to begin in the fall of 2021. The revised timeline was for completion by the start of 2022 school year. But in August the city announced another delay — with the possibility if won’t be finished until Spring, 2023. Ap parently the city did not receive any qualified bidders for the work.
On Aug. 10, just before 7 a.m., Steve Perkins was heading home from an early morning ride around Cherry Creek reservoir with his twin brother Dan. Post-ride, the two men had split up, with Steve heading home to Central Park. Denver po lice say at the intersection of Syracuse and 13th Avenue, just southeast of Park Hill, the driver of a blue Ford Explorer failed to stop for a red light. The driver hit Steve Perkins, and didn’t stop. Perkins died of his injuries. The driver has not been apprehended. The death highlights the failure of Denver’s Vi sion Zero program, which has a goal of zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2030. As of Nov. 27, this year 74 people have been killed.
Back before he was the King of Park Hill, before he was Mr. Big Shot, Chauncey Billups practiced his signature moves on the court at Skyland Park, behind the Hiawatha Davis rec center at 33rd and Holly Street. Artist Marley Boling — joined by Billups’ parents, a group of neighborhood children and other supporters — kicked off a mural-painting project that covers the basketball court where Billups used to practice with his likeness.
As part of the Elevate Denver Bond passed by city voters in 2017, the Pauline Robinson branch is getting a renovation. Plans include an addition to the east of the library with a 600 square-foot community room, new public restrooms, new study rooms and a teen space. The library will be closed during the remodel, which is ex pected in the first quarter of 2023.
Colorado deepened its blue hue in a midterm election that was a blowout for Republicans. Statewide, Gov. Jared Polis easily won a second term, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet coasted to reelection, and Demo crats were easily reelected secretary of state, attorney general and state treasurer. Democrats now hold a super majority in the state house, and control the state senate 23-12.
Of note in 11 statewide bal lot issues, Coloradans voted to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms and expand li quor sales to grocery stores.
In Denver voters weighed in on seven measures, includ ing a new dedicated fund for sidewalks (passed); a le gal fund for people being evicted (failed), a property tax for libraries (passed) and requiring recycling programs for com mercial and multi-family residential units in Denver (passed).
One question that Denver voters did not weigh in on in November is concern ing the future of the Park Hill Golf Course property. After months of uncertainty, the question over whether voters will agree to remove the conservation easement that protects the 155-acre property at 35th Av enue and Colorado Boulevard, and pave the way for development will not be on the bal lot until next April.
The Colfax-Mayfair Business Im provement District is working with area businesses to highlight the stretch of East Colfax just north of Park Hill as a destination for vintage shoppers. Mod Living, Antiques Etc. The Shop, Park Hill Treasures and The Local General all offer vintage, upcycling and antiques.
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, several of the Colfax businesses are planning a Sip & Stroll event. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Shop (5728 E. Colfax), Park Hill Trea sures (6035 E. Colfax), and The Local General (1502 Kearney) will serve spar kling wine and other treats. All sell vin tage and gift items, and all happen to be women-owned. There is no charge, un less of course, you pick up some goodies along the way.
Park Hill Treasures will hold several holiday-related events in December.
• Sunday, Dec. 4: Holiday Open House with Santa, including art projects for kids and free coffee, hot chocolate and cookies from noon-4 p.m.
• Friday, Dec 9: Charcuterie Board Class from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 16: Wine and Art Class with Wanda from 6-8 p.m.
Ceramics, Art & Toffee Dec. 10-11 Park Hill-based potter Barbara Hoff man is holding a Holiday Show and Sale on Saturday and Sunday Dec. 10-11.
Hoffman has been part of the Park Hill Fall Open Studio Tour since its beginning nine years ago. She has been making functional pottery for almost 50 years. Her award-winning work has been featured in many local and nation al shows, and has been acquired by sev eral museums.
Joining her will be Sarah Christensen, an accomplished potter of beautiful functional work, and Glenn Stoll an out standing artist of fabric painting on use ful items. Stoll will also be making the best almond toffee you will ever have. Everyone is welcome to stop by with a friend or two. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The address is 4933 East 22nd Ave.
The aptly-named Park Hill Treasures, at 6035 E. Colfax, is celebrating its oneyear anniversary this month. Kate Haka la, who opened the boutique vendor store with partner Suzi Chierchie, took a few minutes to reflect on a year’s worth of bounty.
Greater Park Hill News: What has been the most rewarding part of Park Hill Treasures?
Kate Hakala: The support from people in the neighborhoods around the store. Most of our vendors live nearby and cus tomers make a point of shopping in the store. We have made many new connec tions with great people.
GPHN: What is the biggest surprise you’ve encountered?
KH: The number of people who are in terested in having a space to sell vintage items, unique art and things they have created has been surprising. We have had some turnover, but we also have vendors
who have been with us since the begin ning who have been quite successful.
GPHN: One unexpected event that occurred just a couple months after you opened was someone apparently tried to drive their car directly into the store. What happened?
KH: On a Sunday morning in Janu ary, a teenage driver was speeding West on Colfax at about 1 a.m. and flipped his car into the front of our store, tak ing out several solid brick columns and front windows. There were no drugs or alcohol involved, and fortunately he was not seriously hurt. He later stopped in to apologize for the incident and any incon venience it caused. The store was closed for several days while the City of Denver made sure that the building was struc turally safe, and it took several months for the damage to be repaired. We had worried about fire, theft and plumbing issues but having a car take out the front of the store never crossed our minds! As soon as we received clearance to open the store again, there was a blizzard. January was definitely our least profitable month.
In time for the holidays, the 2023 Park Hill Garden Walk calendar — as seen hanging on walls and in kitchen all over the neighborhood — has been created specifically for the Colorado Front Range gardener.
This is the third year that Garden Walk volunteers have produced a calendar, which feature images from this year’s June event that showcased eight local gardens. The cal endars also include monthly gardening tips and reminders that will keep your garden plans on track throughout the year. A sec tion on plants native to Colorado has been added this year.
You’ll learn when to plant, prune, fer tilize and mulch, as well as watering tips and more to inspire, create and maintain a beautiful garden. The calendars are $20
closed between those dates.)
You can also pick up calendars the fol lowing retailers. (Cash or check is pre ferred.)
• Park Hill Community Bookstore: 4620 E. 23rd Ave.
• Spinelli’s Market: 4621 E. 23rd Ave.
• Postal Centers USA: 1305 Krameria St. Suite H (Mayfair Plaza Shopping Center)
• Cake Crumbs (cash or check only): 2216 Kearney St.
• Ed Moore Florist: 6101 E. Colfax Ave.
• Amore Fiori: 7353 E. 29th Ave. (Central Park Town Center)
• Datura Home - 10155 E. 29th Dr., Suite 140 (Eastbridge)
Approximately 200 calendars sold last year, with proceeds going to support the mission of the GPHC. GPHC is a volunteerbased registered neighborhood organiza tion that works to promote the character and vibrancy of Park Hill, while preserv ing the quality of life and the history of the neighborhood. Learn more and get in volved at greaterparkhill.org.
Check Out Our Programs: From Magic To Storytime, Holiday Cardmaking To Drag Queen Bingo
Compiled by Leslie Williams Pauline Robinson Branch LibrarianGreater Park Hill has two public librar ies: 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 for both neighbor hood libraries, check out denverlibrary.org.
The following in-person programs are scheduled during the month of December:
Pauline Robinson Branch
After School is Cool | Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays | 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Join us at After School is Cool on Tues day, Wednesday and Thursday for crafts, games, STEM and more. Program is for ages 7-12.
Preschool Storytime | Wednesdays Dec. 7, 14 | 10:30-11 a.m.
Stories, songs, and fingerplays for chil dren ages 3 to 5 years old and their care givers.
Drop In Tech Help | Wednesdays Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Need help navigating the internet, email, or social networks like Facebook? Have questions about your phone or tab let? Want to know how to access eBooks on any device? Drop by and get your ques tions answered and learn how to use tech more effectively.
Park Hill Branch
Holiday Card Making | Dec. 1, 4-5:30 p.m. Come make your own holiday cards us ing our paper embossing machine!
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays 10:30-11 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or care givers.
Toddler Storytimes | Fridays 10:30-11 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for tod
dlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
TAB | Dec. 13 and 27, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Anyone 6th-12th grade is welcome to join and help with library programming and resources geared towards teens.
Magic the Gathering Club | Wednesdays 4-5:30 p.m.
A teen-run Magic the Gathering Club for other teens.
Kids Chess Club | Saturdays 3-4:30 p.m. Chess club hosted by Charlie Keglovitz. Open to people 18 and under.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Dec. 10, 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.
Kids Book Club | Dec. 15, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
For ages 7-10, Read the book at home then join us to discuss and participate in fun activities related to the book at our monthly book club. This month we will be discussing Chester Nez and the Unbreak able Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story by Joseph Bruchac Our activities will include Code breaking activities. Registration en couraged but not required.
Drag Queen Bingo | Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-noon
Shirley Delta Blow will be your gorgeous host for some lovely games of BINGO for all ages.
Kids Craft: Wooden Bank | Dec. 29, 2-3 p.m. Save your money in a cute bank that you decorate yourself. Limited to the first 25 participants.
Rock Your Winter Blues Away | Dec. 17, 2:30-4 p.m.
Rock your Winter Blues away when Lori “Shelvis” Muha transforms into the rockand-roll superstar Elvis. Her tribute per formance of Elvis gets the audience singing and dancing.
Another year is coming to a close, and 2023 draws closer. I find myself reflecting, categorizing this year into three lessons I’ve learned.
So, three lessons for entering 2023: You don’t need to prove anything to any one. So often throughout my life I have felt that every opportunity I got was some end-all, be-all time to prove myself to the people around me and to myself. Sometimes, opportunities are just that: opportunities. And sometimes, living up to ex pectations means doing it be cause you want to and not for someone else’s praise. When I went to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh this summer and left my family in the USA, I realized my favorite experiences were the ones where I was at the barest and most vulnerable. I most enjoyed the moments staying up late in a dorm room with my friends, just talk ing. Nothing frilly or fancy compares to genuine and simple moments.
Along the same thread, I have learned that only you can substantiate who you are. This year, I found myself falling into pits of despondency when I felt like my percep tion of who I am wasn’t corroborated by other people’s visions of me. The truth is, though, I am the only person who spends every day, minute, and second with myself. I have some very close friends, some who
go all the way back to kindergarten. But it’s okay to have aspects of your identity and experiences you have that are only yours and not your peers’ or your family’s. Over the summer, I started walking around the neighborhood every night. It got me out of the house, and I would find a spot to sit and journal. One of these nights, I got caught in the rain and I let myself stand and get soaked to the bone. I remember laughing like a maniac, having the time of my life. I haven’t shared this with anyone until now. I rel ished having this experience as an inside joke with myself.
Last, I learned that relying on anything except your genu ine self as a crutch makes for an impossible journey through life. We are often told that we have to fit into a mold, wear a uniform. But we are com plex and three-dimensional human beings. No one can just be “the funny one” or “the smart one” or any other “one.” We are not one. We are fragments of beings that be come beautiful kaleidoscopes of shifting pieces. Trying to pretend to be a “one” will only lead to an identity crisis.
Overall, I learned to be self-sufficient, but understand that I simultaneously can rely on genuine human connection for all of the support I may need.
can just be
funny one” or
smart one” or any other “one.”
The operating budget of the Greater Park Hill News relies on advertising funds. We are so grateful for our advertisers who enable us to provide this publication free of charge to the Greater Park Hill Community. The list of businesses and organizations below have purchased a display ad in 2022. Please consider supporting them during the holiday season and the upcoming year. Thank you to all who have contributed. We are so grateful! If you would like to contribute to the Greater Park Hill News, please visit greaterparkhill.org/newspaper/support
Type Business name Phone Website
Arts & Entertainment Ceramics in the City 303-200-0461 ceramicsinthecity.com
Arts & Entertainment Cleo Parker Robinson Dance 303-295-1759 cleoparkerdance.org
Arts & Entertainment Voices Rock voicesrock.com
Auto Dart Auto 303-562-1015 dartauto.com
Auto Pride Auto Group/Kearney Garage 303-333-7980 prideautocare.com
Campaigns & Elections Heidi For Governor heidiforgov.com
Campaigns & Elections Save Open Space Denver sosdenver.net
Dining Benzina 303-399-2352 benzinadenver.com
Dining Cake Crumbs 303-861-4912 cake-crumbs.com
Dining Esters Neighborhood Pub 303-997-4173 estersdenver.com
Dining Honey Hill Cafe 720-242-6048 honeyhillcafe.com
Dining Mississippi Boy Catfish and Ribs 601-880-9828 MississippiBoy5280.com
Dining My Kings Ice Cream 720-749-6101 mykingsicecream.com
Dining Oblios Park Hill 303-321-1511 obliosparkhill.com
Dining Sexy Pizza 720-923-2223 sexy.pizza
Education CU Denver Change Makers ucdenver.edu/change-makers
Education Denver Language School 303-557-0852, 303-777-0544 denverlanguageschool.org
Education Denver Preschool Program 303-595-4377 dpp.org
Education French American School of Denver 720-966-1380 fasdenver.org
Education JCC Denver 303-399-2660 jccdenver.org
Education L'Ecole de Denver 970-439-0130 ecoledenver.com
Education Sewall Child Development Center 303-399-1800 sewall.org
Events Denver Fringe Festival denverfringe.org
Events Park Hill 4th of July Parade parkhillparade.com
Events Park Hill Art Festival coloradoartshows.com
Events Park HIll Garden Walk parkhillgardenwalk.org
Events Park Hill Home Tour parkhillhometour.org
Financial & Tax Services Jimmy Johnson Tax Services 303-331-8728 jjohnsontaxservice.com
Financial & Tax Services Kuhn Advisors 303-803-1016 KuhnAdvisors.com
Financial & Tax Services Mobile Notary 720-434-0434
Government City and County Denver denvergov.org
Health Hakala Family Dentistry 303-321-8967 hakalafamilydentistry.com
Health Iris Pediatric Dentistry 720-465-7957 irispediatricdentistry.com
Health Mayfair Vision Clinic 303-333-9898 visionsourcemayfairvisionclinic.com
Health Nestman Orthodontics 720-735-9800 nestmanortho.com
Health Oneida Park Dental Stuidio 303) 531-1578 oneidaparkdentalstudio.com
Health Park Hill Dental Arts 303-377-8662 parkhilldental.com
Health Park Hill Family Dental 303-377-5646 parkhillfamilydentistry.com
Health Seto Family Dentistry 720-722-9070 setofamilydentistry.com
Health UC Anschutz Medical Campus 303-724-5276 medschool.cuanschutz.edu
Home Services City Side Remodeling 720-338-0748 citysideremodeling.com
Home Services Colorado Ecoscapes 303-229-7988 coloradoecoscapes.com
Home Services David Smith Windows 720-550-2786 drsmith46@yahoo.com
Home Services Denver Metro Masonry 303-880-8702 denverglassblock.com
Home Services Diane Gordon Design 303-355-5666 dianegordondesign.com
Home Services Gather & Spruce 720-990-5085 gatherandspruce.com
Home Services Integrity Roofing Services 720-261-3041 myintegrityusa.com
Home Services Ireland's Finest Painting Co 303-512-8777 irelandsfinestinc.com
Home Services Jake Electric 720-434-0434
Home Services JR Painting 720-485-7207 jpabz04@gmail.com
Home Services Kujawa Construction 303-324-6250 kujawaconstruction.com
Home Services Magnolia Landscaping 303-242-6703 magnoliagreenlandscaping. com
Home Services Number One Housecleaning 720-628-6690
Home Services Superior House Cleaning 720-626-3696, 720-276-5174
Home Services Van Camps' Quality Floors 303-871-8377 hardwoodfloorsdenver.com
Organization Colfax Mayfair Business Improvement District colfaxmayfairbid.com
Organizations Colorado Housing and Finance Authority 800-659-2656 www.chfainfo.com
Personal Care Ceremony Barber Shop 303-568-9065 ceremonybarber.com
Pet Services Collar Candy Pet Supply Boutique 720-702-6972 collarcandy petsupplyboutique.com
Pet Services Compassionate Canine Cuts 303-885-8866 compassionatecaninecuts. com
Pet Services Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center 303-388-2255 parkhillvet.com
Real Estate 8oz Real Estate 303-543-3083 NatalieHengel.8z.com
Real Estate Anastasia WilliamsonKentwood City 303-523-2037 ParkHillSpecialist.com
Real Estate Ann Torgerson - Home Smart 303-522-5922 homesmart.com/realestate-agent/colorado/ greenwoodvillage/44980-anntorgerson/Welcome
Real Estate Chris Merman - Liv Sothebys 303-358-4294 cmerman@livsothebysrealty. com
Real Estate Jaden Combs - Kentwood Combs Real Estate 303-324-1437 www.combssellhomes.com
Real Estate Jay Epperson - Compass 303-886-6606 parkhillhomes.net
Real Estate Joel Spiccola - Compass 720-323-4055 joel.spicola@compass.com
Real Estate Judy Wolfe - Compass 303-549-6406 parkhillhomes.net
Real Estate Keith Combs - Kentwood Combs Real Estate 720-218-9614 www.combssellhomes.com
Real Estate Kim Davis - Compass of Cherry Creek 303-218-8373 compass.com/agents/ kim-davis/
Real Estate Laura Hudgins - Compass NPRE 720-480-9692 compass.com/agents/ laura-hudgins
Real Estate Laurel Adler - Live West Realty 561-212-5190 laureladler.com
Real Estate Marcy Eastman - Compass Realty 720-436-5494 marcyeastman.com
Real Estate Mark Baker Equity Colorado 720-257-1541 5280core.com
Real Estate Nina Kuhl - Home Smart 303-913-5858 kuhlnina.com
Real Estate Roberta Locke - Home Smart 303-713-9000 homesmart.com
Real Estate Steve LaPorta - Home Smart 303-525-0640 homesmart.com/realestate-agent/colorado/ greenwoodvillage/39278stephen-laporta/Welcome
Religious Institutions Park Hill Community UCC parkhillucc.org
Retail Country Cute Shop 303-763-0913 coutrycuteshop.com
Retail Park Hill Community Bookstore 303-355-8508 parkhillbookstore.org
Retail Park Hill Treasures 720-701-2644 parkhilltreasures.com
Retail Tague Farm taguefarm.com
Retail The Local General thelocalgeneral.com
Retail The Shape of Wood theshapeofwood.com
Retail Upstairs Art 281-798-5143 artworks260@gmail.com
Senior Services Colorado Gerontological Society 303-333-3482 senioranswers.org
Sports & Fitness Be Well 303-468-3239 bewellconnect.net
Sports & Fitness Body In Motion 720-376-9037 bodyinmotiondc.com
Sports & Fitness Mightly Movement Academy 720-955-3677 mightymovementacademy. com
Sports & Fitness Nurture Pilates nurturepilates.com
Sports & Fitness Soccer Electric soccerelectric.com
It’s the Thursday before Thanksgiving, and I’m sitting at my laptop peering out the window to ad mire the floating snowflakes icing the towering trees dot ting the greenway across from my Park Hill home. And as I reflect on my past few months as the new executive director of Greater Park Hill Commu nity, Inc., I’m in absolute awe of the individuals, businesses, corporations, farms, food banks and groups that have supported this organization through their volunteer hours, financial donations and thousands of pounds of food donations. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude; my heart is swelled with deep, deep appreciation.
It’s been more than 55 years since our or ganization was established, and through out the decades, our donors and volunteers have enabled it to grow and flourish, to nur ture and provide. They are the backbone of our programs, our everyday heroes and heroines and our dedicated hearts.
As many of you know, we assemble and distribute between 350-400 meals each Thanksgiving to in-need families, indepen dent of where they live. And it takes a very
real village of multiple hands and bodies to make this happen. In the weeks leading up to our Thanksgiving Giveaway, volunteers donated more than 200 hours of service, including building hundreds of boxes, shopping for — and donating — food, organizing thousands upon thousands of food items, loading up their vehicles with heavy box loads and driving in precarious con ditions to deliver Thanksgiving baskets to elementary schools, homebound individuals and low-income apartments scattered across the city. They donated gift cards and en couraged their neighbors to do the same.
Meanwhile, numerous businesses gra ciously hosted food drives on our behalf, which resulted in hundreds of donations from caring individuals whose names we’ll never know. I wish I did. On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in mid-November, some 45 cyclists, in conjunction with Hardt Fam ily Cyclery, arrived en masse at our office to deliver bag after bag after bag of Thanks giving food gifts. It was one of the most joyful moments of my professional career. For every food donation delivered to our office, another family had a full plate on Thanksgiving.
A remarkable number of generous in
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The Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organization that pro motes 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 vol unteer at-large representatives, as well as 10 district representatives. If you are in terested in volunteering or serving on a committee, contact current GPHC Board Chair Shane Sutherland at chair@great erparkhill.org for details.
The following are current board mem bers, and their best contacts. Many repre sentatives 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 dis cuss 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 rep resentative.
• Secretary and Zoning/Property Use
• Treasurer Heather Shockey
• District 1 Amy Harris
• District 2 Brenda Morrison
• District 3 Heather Shockey
• District 4 Kevin Wiegand
• 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
dividuals, businesses, organizations and groups graced us with financial contribu tions to cover our Thanksgiving expenses, of which there are many. And with sky rocketing food — and food supply costs — these contributions made an enormous impact. And because of those monetary gifts —including nearly 1,000 donations made through 9News and anchor/man aging editor Kyle Clark’s Word of Thanks online micro-giving campaign — we now have funds to exponentially improve, ex pand and add to our free food programs. This includes our emergency food pantry, which currently provides up to 18 pantry shopping visits per year for the approxi mately 1,000 in-need families we serve. I’m incredibly happy to announce that your fi nancial contributions will now enable us to increase those visits to 24 per year — and hopefully more — in 2023. You are provid ing real nourishment to those who need it most.
To each and every single one of you who have volunteered, donated food or mon etary contributions, hosted a food drive, lifted us up with your kind words (often, all at once), attended or sponsored a GPHC event or offered to help in so many other ways, big and small, thank you from the
Dahlia Campus Farms and Gardens
Housing for All Centers & Saints
Park Hill United Methodist Church
CJV Real Estate Park Hill Congregational UCC
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
PHC Mixed Use LLC
Messiah Community Church
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Cure D’Ars Catholic Church
Kathy Aguirre Barbara Allen Christine and Daniel Allen
Penny AshleyLawrence Amy Barrett Cathy Bauchwitz Kristen Blair Simon Blamires Sarah Booth Jerome Borison Stacey Bowers Devon Brocke
Inga Calvin Erasmo Casiano Maggie Chambers Emily Clark Mary Ellen Cochran Lana and James Cordes
Jenna Cruff
Emma Cummings
Jennifer Czwornog Brenna Derritt
Abigail Dice Erin Donovan Danielle Dwyer Ruby Eichenour Carol Emmer
Steve Farley Michelle Ferguson Anne & Joe Frank Marian Frank David Gestner Bobbi Gillis Josh Gipper
Princess Gray Andy and Katie Gruel Lisa Haddox
Simon and Elizabeth Hambidge Amy Harris Matt Harrison Lola and Arlen Hershberger Adrienne Hill Heidi Hine Henry Hine Bob Homiak and Susan Schneider Casandra Hood Todd & Renee Hopkins Bill Juraschek
Tim and Sally Kennedy John Kerr Michael Kosnett and Jan Van Mosteller
Kirstin Koszorus Jacqueline Lansing Alan and Leslie Levine
Sharon and Joe Little Lauren Long Mark and Debra Lovell
Tracey Macdermott and Heather Shockey Carol Maclennan Viki Manley Gary and Carolyn Martyn Kathleen Mayer Jeff and Mayzie Mayfield Beth and Jim McBride Robin and Jay McCarthy Darren McKinnis
bottom of our swelled-with-appreciation hearts. You bring out the best in us.
On behalf of our board of directors and myself, we wish you joy, love, peace and the happiest of holidays.
With jingle bells of gratitude.
Our greatest emergency food pantry needs in December:
• Canned or packaged meats and fish (spam, tuna, salmon, chicken)
• Ramen
• Dry cereal
• Oatmeal
• Coffee
• Tea
• Juice boxes
• Baking supplies
• Canned fruit
• Snacks
Check greaterparkhill.org for details on how, when and where to drop off your do nations. Out of respect for our clients and to ensure we follow food safety protocols, we cannot accept any expired or opened food packages. Thank you for your under standing.
Randy & Babette
McQueen
Patricia Mead
Sophie Milam
Stephen and Laurel Mohr
Brenda and Stefan Mokrohisky
Brenda and Brian Morrison/Shaw
Harriet Mullaney
Sammie Muzikowski
Buffy and Vernon Naake
Susan Neal
Chuck E Nelson
Devin Nelson Monica Newman
Andy Nguyez Chris and Erin Nielsen
Hilary O’Byrne Glenda O’Neal Tom and Carol Odwyer
Jessica and Jeff Pearson
Louis Plachowski and Bridget Walsh
Betsy and Geoffrey Post Geoff Post Annie and David Pratt
Alan Prendergast Ellen Reath and Craig Maginness
Erin Reynolds
Susan and Paul Riederer
Steven and Joan Ringel
Jeffrey and Karen Roberts Emily Roet
David and Patty Roush David Rubin Mary Salsich
Doug Schuler and Margerie Hicks
Alexis and Joel Senger
Elvin and Irmi Smith
Anne Speck
Sarah Speicher
Kait Speth Matthew and Elizabeth Spohn Frank and Jan Tapy
Penfield Tate Julie Tores
Wendi Torres Gloria Valdez Harold and Lois Weber
Sue Weinstein and Marekah Stewart Polly Wirtz and Gary Klein Sue Wofford Judy Wolfe Guy and Susan Wroble
Chris Yonushewski Debbie Zucker and Brian Field
Volunteers
Henry Bootz
Claudia Fields
Maria Flora Noni Horwitz
Bernadette Kelly Linda Lovell Elizabeth Post Carole Robertson Deb Rosenbaum
Mary Salsich
Lindsay Wadman
Jeannie Willis
Joel Hunter-Pirtle
Emily Clark
Vera Kalba
Mark Pressey
Nichole Barnes
Carolyn Dooling
Carrol Rhead
Harry Doby
Nina Kuhi
Roberta Locke
Nikki Wiederaenders Ann Torgerson
Someone once said there is something rather mystical about an insect that can turn its head all the way around to get a better look at you. Throughout history, the Praying Mantis has been revered. Some ancient civilizations believed it has supernatural powers. In parts of Africa, a mantis brings good luck. Many Native Americans believe the mantis came before the creation of man and Earth. Symbolically, a Praying Mantis represents wealth, success, large families and the cycle of life. Spotting one can be a reminder to be still, quiet and mindful. This Praying Mantis was
The holiday season has snuck up on us again. Since our pets are family, consider the following ideas for the pets in your life, whether your own or belonging to family or friends:
1. A favorite toy or chew toy: Replace an old toy with a new fresh one to keep the cat or dog busy while the rest of the family opens their gifts.
2. Healthy treats: Something yummy and low calorie to give that keeps pets from getting unhealthy table scraps.
3. M icrochip: A microchip the size of a grain of rice offers permanent identifica tion for the life of your pet. It’s a one-time investment that could help to reunite you with your pet in the event of an escape or disaster.
4. Grooming tools or a grooming gift cer tificate: Every pet needs a little groom ing attention, especially those with more high maintenance coats. Brushing means less hair in the house or, for cats, less hair ingested to become future hairballs. And, a little grooming time is bonding time with your pet that also might let you catch any changes of concern early.
5. Remember, 80 percent of cats and dogs need a professional veterinary dental assessment and cleaning by their fifth birthday, if not sooner. Purchase a gift certificate to put towards a professional veterinary dental cleaning or buy home dental care products from your veteri narian to get started on your New Year’s goal to do something every day for your pet’s oral health.
6. New bed or crate: Many people do not have a place for their pet to sleep or to able to get away from family hustle and
bustle. Cages and crates are a good gift for those with a new or growing dog. A collapsible crate is an excellent present for someone who travels with their pet.
7. Make a gift certificate for a new puppy or kitten: DO NOT present the real thing during the holiday hustle! It’s too much for a new puppy or kitten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Besides, it’s much more fun for the whole family to be a part of the pet selection process at a shelter or breeder. Or help defray the costs of a new pet with a gift certificate to their veteri narian to cover the costs of vaccinations, neutering, training and other care in the first six months.
8. Make a donation to a nonprofit group or memorial fund: One of my favorites is Canine Companions for Independence’s new IPO, Initial Puppy Offering, pro gram. It helps to fund the training and matching of puppies to help children and adults with a variety of special needs where a specialty trained dog can change someone’s life.
9. Carry your pet with you in the form of customized socks or other apparel with pictures of your pets.
10. Make memories permanent with a pet portrait or photo collage. There are so many options, from a simple portrait to a collection of pictures of the pet/s in your life.
The holidays are a wonderful time of year. May you enjoy all of it with family and friends. Enjoy it all safely with your special furry family members.
St. For more information, visit parkhillvet.com
tains a list of Park Hill’s places of worship
Free morning beginner Tai Chi classes on Zoom every Friday at 10 a.m. and Wednes day 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 wel come to join.
Curiosity Never Retires! OLLI at DU re turns In Person to Park Hill UMC January 10th. 8-week courses Tuesday mornings/ Wednesday afternoons. Current Events, Women’s Wisdom, Free Speech, Integra tive Medicine and Joseph Conrad’s books. Hurry and call Jacqui Shumway, Park Hill OLLI Coordinator 303-725-7482 to enroll. On-line options also 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, tuck pointing, chimneys, re taining walls, city sidewalks. Licensed, bonded, and insured. www.thebrickand stoneguy.com References. Call Shawn 303-907-9223
Tuckpointing. Over 25 years experience. Fully insured. Mortar color and brick match ing, broken brick replacement, cement chimney crown replacement. 12 years Chicago union experience. Mr Chimney and Home Masonry Repair. Call Chuck Bahnsen 303-948-7999
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 operat ed 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 plas ter (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 303-6981057
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. All pricing includes gear pickup. www.centralparkskiboardtuning. com TEXT BRETT 303-550-6166
Next to Spinelli’s! Be a part of the vitality of the neighborhood. 4613 E 23rd Ave. Call Joelle 303-669-6782
Double hung window RESTORATION in cludes replacing sash cords (ropes) and removal of excess paint on wood and
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
