Leslie Williams Wins Babbs Award
Historic Turnout
Millions Turned Out Oct. 18 For ‘No Kings’ Rallies
A Breakdown By The Numbers:
• Worldwide: Estimated 7 million
• Downtown Denver: 25,000
• Number of Rallies Worldwide: 2,700
• Number of Rallies in Colorado: 50
• Number of Rallies In Park Hill: 3
• Turnout At Turtle Park: 343 people
• Age Range Of Demonstrators At Turtle Park: 8 months to 90-something
Pauline Robinson Librarian Honored For Her Passion For Literacy And Calm Leadership Story and photos by Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
Since 1980, Greater Park Hill Community has annually honored local leaders whose work for the betterment of the community has been exemplary. The Babbs Award, as it is called, is named for Dr. J. Carlton Babbs, a minister who, beginning in the 1950s, helped organize the Park Hill Action Committee and was a key supporter of integration in Park Hill. This year’s recipient is Leslie Williams, the senior librarian of the Pauline Robinson Branch Library. For the past 12 years, Williams has overseen the staff, operations and programs of the library. Following in the footsteps of her library’s namesake, Pauline Robinson, Williams’ passion is promoting literacy — particularly for young patrons.
Beginning in fall of 2023, Williams took on a new challenge: helping to oversee the massive $3.73 million renovation project of her library, at 33rd and Holly Street. She took on that herculean new role with calm leadership, grace and her usual good cheer.
As senior librarian, Williams was tasked with coordinating the library’s nearly two-year closure, beginning with the job of safely packing and storing all the library’s materials while renovations were underway. It meant working with and coordinating with all of the elements of the remodel — from city and library staff
and project architects and contractors from ideation to completion.
It meant coordinating with Denver Public Art on the selection and installation of public art in the reno vated facility.
During the library’s closure, staff continued to offer critical library services — such as computer access and a collection of ma terials — operating from the Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center across the street. The renovations were completed this year, and the library reopened on Feb. 24. The expanded library now has an ad ditional 1,000 square feet, two new study rooms, a commu nity room and new spaces for youth. Upgrades include new interior and exterior enhancements, including landscaping, sidewalks and lighting. Two new public art pieces now greet patrons. Both installa tions honor
Robinson, the first African American librarian in Denver, who fought for equal rights and better educational opportunities for children.
continued on page 9
Pauline
Mrs. Rob -
Demonstrators in downtown Denver, above, and at Turtle Park in Park Hill, at right.
Kevin Mohatt/Colorado Newsline
Cara DeGette/GPHN
Park Hill Community Bookstore
Celtic Night In The Neighborhood
The Colorado Youth Pipe Band presents Celtic Night in the Neighborhood, a free concert showcasing the spirit of community through music and dance. The concert is Monday, Nov. 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2201 Dexter St. All are welcome.
The Colorado Youth Pipe Band is the only youth pipe band in Colorado and is dedicated to teaching the traditions of Highland bagpipes, drums and Highland dance. The band performs and competes around Colorado. Members range between the ages of 4 to 18 years old.
Holiday Craft Day Nov. 8
Messiah Community Church is holding a Christmas Craft Day on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 am to noon. Join neighbors to make a variety of ornaments and other small gifts, enjoy a few snacks and enjoy each others’ company. Church officials emphasize that the event is designed to celebrate community and the winter holiday season — not to preach or to proselytize. Everyone is welcome. Messiah Community Church is at 1750 Colorado Blvd., and its parking lot is accessible off of 18th Avenue.
Free Museum Night Nov. 8
On Saturday, Nov. 8, more than a dozen of Denver’s museums and cultural institutions will stay open late from 5–10 p.m. and open their doors for free admission. Participating museums include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Art Museum, the Children’s Museum, Black American West Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, History Colorado, Wings Over the Rockies, Four Mile House, the Firefighters Museum and more. Free shuttles are available to hop between locations. Check out tinyurl.com/ FreeMuseumNight for more.
Getting Merry At The Stanley
The annual Camp Christmas returns at the Stanley Marketplace beginning Nov. 14 through Christmas Eve. Created by local artist Lonnie Hanzon in partnership with DCPA Off-Center, the marketplace will be filled with holiday decor, lights and cheer. Camp Christmas events include holidaythemed pop-up bars, free visits with Santa every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Merry Badge scavenger hunt and a holiday gift shop. Stanley Marketplace is at 2501
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CONTACT US
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Deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month
Dallas St., east of Park Hill.
Sugar Plum Bazaar Nov. 22 & 23
The annual Sugar Plum Bazaar will hold its annual holiday market on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23 at Aspen Grove in Littleton, 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr. The bazaar features local artists and artisans selling a variety of home, body and creative wares. Admission is free.
Colfax Mayfair Sip & Stroll
Show the billionaires that they don’t own you by shopping local and supporting independent businesses this holiday season. The annual Colfax Sip & Stroll is Saturday, Dec. 6, from 2 p.m. to 6 pm. Here’s how it works: Pick up a “passport” at Park Hill Treasures (6035 E. Colfax) or Marczyk’s (5100 E. Colfax) to register for prizes. Then visit 12 participating merchants along the ’Fax for for a passport stamp, wine and food samples and holiday bargains. Turn in your passport to enter a drawing for a big prize. Check tinyurl.com/HolidaySipStroll for participating merchants.
Potters Winter Show & Sale
The Denver Potters guild’s annual show and sale is Thursday, Dec. 4 through Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Sixth Avenue United Church, 3250 E. Sixth Ave. (at Adams Street) Top local artists sell their work in a variety of mediums including ceramics, jewelry, glass, wood and fiber. Admission is free and street parking is available. Check denverpotters.com for hours of operation and additional information. Follow Denver Potters @castleclayartists on Instagram and Facebook. ✦
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
November 2025 The Greater Park Hill News
Ceramic Sun by Kelley C. Jones.
Shy And Retiring
If you ’ ve ever said...
“This house feels so big for just us now... ” It may be time to downsize. REACH OUT TO START THE CONVERSATION!
Little Green Herons are fairly common throughout much of North and Central America. But they are not commonly seen in Colorado — unless you are lucky enough to spot them during fall migration. This rare vagrant is about the size of a crow, with a long dagger-like bill, blue-green back and dark cap. Shy and retiring, these birds can be spotted, usually in a crouched position and partly concealed in wetland vegetation, waiting patiently for their prey. This Little Green Heron was spotted last month at Bluff Lake, a mile east of Park Hill, by Mark Silverstein.
10/21/25, 3:42 PM AW AD - Park Hil
MARCY EASTMAN
News Of The Neighborhood
Compiled by Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
Flock Opponents to Mayor: Shut Off The Cameras
Amid accusations of secret negotiations and allowing a private company to promote mass surveillance of Denverites, Mayor Mike Johnston announced on Oct. 22 that the city will extend its contract with Flock Safety for at least five more months.
The use of the Flock cameras has generated heated pushback from the ACLU, reproductive rights advocates, members of the Denver city council and others who fear the cameras pose a serious threat to civil liber-
ties. At a September Greater Park Hill Community meeting, at-large member Sarah Parady described how the cameras work, as well as their potentially dangerous misuse.
More than 100 Flock cameras were installed in May, 2024 across Denver. They capture two million screenshots every month of the license plates and other details about vehicles driving past. Those images are uploaded into a database that law enforcement officials say help them solve crimes.
Earlier this year Denver officials learned that the company, without knowledge or permission, had uploaded the city’s information into its national database. That meant thousands of law enforcement across the country — from ICE to small town sheriffs to park rangers — could access the information. In May, the Denver City Council unanimously opposed a contract extension to the company, citing privacy concerns.
Mayor Johnston responded by approving a smaller contract with Flock Safety to continue operations.
The $498,500 price tag came just under the $500,000 threshold for which city contracts require council approval.
Johnston’s latest contract extension came without input from a task force he had agreed to form. It also occurred the day a town hall meeting had been scheduled to demand Johnston “turn
This likeness of Chauncey Billups was painted three years ago on the basketball court at
Park, where Billups practiced his signature moves back in the day.
the Flock cameras off” and“say no to mass surveillance.” In his announcement, Johnston claimed the contract extension includes “robust new safeguards” — including $100,000 fines if the company shares Denver’s data with the federal government.
Parady said she was stunned by what she termed the mayor’s “secret backdoor deal” with the discredited CEO of Flock cameras. Johnston’s brazenness, she said, occurred without public process, without input from the city council, and without input from his own task force of local and national experts.
Chauncey Billups Arrested; Fans Shocked And Saddened
The news that Chauncey Billups had been arrested on Oct. 23 was met with varying levels of shock, distress and sadness.
The allegations were detailed during a press conference featuring FBI director Kash Patel, who alleged that Billups participated in a yearslong scheme to scam wealthy people out of millions of dollars in rigged poker games organized by the mafia. Responses ranged from disbelief to heartbreak. “Nothing about this makes sense,” Denver Post sports col-
Denver City Councilwoman Sarah Parady described the possible dangers of Flock cameras at a September Greater Park Hill meeting. Photo by Cara DeGette
Skyland
umnist Troy Renck wrote.
Billups, who grew up in Park Hill, played 17 years in the N.B.A. He wears his neighborhood pride in the form of prominent arm tattoo that includes a caricature of himself on a throne, with the words “King of Park Hill.” The fivetime All-Star point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004. Long a role model for young athletes, Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame a year ago.
For the past four years, Billups has been the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. After his arrest on wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges, he was placed on immediate leave. He is scheduled to appear in Eastern District Court in Brooklyn on Nov. 24. In a statement to ESPN, Billups’s attorney, Chris Heywood, denied the allegations.
”Anyone who knows Chauncey Billups knows he is a man of integrity; men of integrity do not cheat and defraud others,” Heywood said. “Chauncey Billups has never backed down. He does not plan to do so now. He will fight these allegations with the same tenacity that marked his 28-year career.”
School To Close; Housing
Slated At Campus Mosaic
Big changes are afoot at Mosaic Community Campus, the former Johnson & Wales University site at Montview Boulevard and Quebec Street.
Three years ago, the campus was acquired by the Denver Housing Authority, Urban Land Conservancy and Denver Public Schools. The plan was to
repurpose the property for K-12 education, affordable housing, food-based businesses and other community uses.
DPS has taken over buildings on the western side of campus, to expand Denver School for the Arts. The Kitchen Network — a nonprofit food business incubator and workforce development center — is in the university’s former culinary school. St. Elizabeth’s School, a private K-8 school, moved into Treat Hall, the grand campus centerpiece that is listed on the National Historic Registry. Archway Communities, which develops and maintains affordable housing, renovated the three dorms on the eastern side of the campus into 154 affordable housing units. Those were completed a year ago.
The other two former dorms on campus, owned by the Denver Housing Authority, were also slated for affordable housing. However, the buildings — Triangolo and Gaebe Halls — have sat empty and unused.
Last month, Archway announced that it will take over Triangolo and Gaebe Halls. Plans are to rehabilitate the buildings and create approximately 58 affordable rental units with supportive services.
Also last month, St. Elizabeth’s announced the school will close at the end of the school year. The news site Denverite reported that three families are engaged in “legal battles” with the school, including allegations of bullying. However on its website the school cites financial reasons for the decision. “In recent years, costs in Denver have continued to rise, and despite our best efforts, fundraising and enrollment have not kept pace.” ✦
New Sign At 17th & Monaco
It’s been six months since David Stoll and Laurel Adler’s home on Monaco at 17th was last crashed into by a speeding car. (Their property was severely damaged by cars and trucks five times in a 16-month timespan.) Neighbors have pleaded that warning signs and other safety measures be installed at the dangerous intersection; Denver officials have still taken no action. Last month, Stoll’s neighbor — whose property has also been crashed into — erected this massive light display on the lawn. It faces Monaco and can also be seen by motorists traveling east on 17th. The red flashing arrows ripple to the left, with an accompanying message that reads “PLEASE STOP HITTING US.”
Silverstein
Dr. Kate Hakala and her staff are pleased to welcome Dr. Firas Habas to the team. Dr. Habas is a graduate of Marquette Dental School and has received advanced training in the U.S. and Switzerland.
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Aerial view of Campus Mosaic. Treat Hall (currently St. Elizabeth’s School) is in the center. The buildings at right are now Archway-owned affordable housing. Triangolo and Gaebe Halls can partially be seen at left. File photo
Photo by Mark
City Park Deserves A Safer Path Forward
Efforts To Open A New Denver Zoo Entrance Is On Pause … For Now
By David Scarbeary | For the GPHN
On Sept. 2, City Park Friends and Neighbors (CPFAN) hosted a community meeting to discuss the Denver Zoo’s proposal to reopen its longclosed West Entrance — known as Gate 19 — for a one-year pilot project. The meeting drew about 70 participants. The zoo’s Chief Operating Officer, Cristal Torres DeHerrera, attended, as well as Director of Communications Jake Kubié, who outlined the plan and answered community questions.
According to zoo representatives, the goal of reopening Gate 19 is to provide new access for pedestrians and cyclists and improve neighborhood
connectivity to the zoo. However, community members expressed broad concern that the plan, as currently designed, conflicts with the 2018 City Park Master Plan, as well as present conditions on the park’s west side. The master plan envisions Gate 19 as a pedestrian entrance — not as a secondary parking or vehicle access point. During the meeting, attendees noted that the west side of the park currently lacks safe pedestrian routes; there are no sidewalks or protected paths leading from York Street to the gate. That means parents with strollers or children, and wheelchair users, would have to share the road
with cars in order to reach the gate. Other concerns centered on the risk of increasing car traffic and parking overflow inside City Park. The adjacent playground, tennis courts and picnic areas already experience congestion from zoo visitors during peak weekends and holidays. Residents cautioned that turning Gate 19 into a vehicular access point would further crowd these community spaces and undermine the park’s pastoral character.
Several attendees questioned the zoo’s evidence for supporting the project. Despite having detailed visitor data, zoo officials provided no figures showing how many people currently walk or bike to the zoo. Nor did they provide concrete plans to encourage non-car visits.
After the meeting with City Park Friends and Neighbors, zoo representatives presented the same proposal to other interested parties, including South City Park Neighbors (SCPNA) and City Park Alliance.
During the SCPNA meeting, zoo representatives suggested that moving the main entrance to its current north location years ago had “closed the zoo off from the surrounding neighborhood.” Our position is that this historical change was made to reduce congestion and preserve access to the park— a priority
that remains valid today.
At the SCPNA meeting, neighbors again voiced safety concerns and suggested creative alternatives, such as a key-fob system similar to the Denver Botanic Gardens’ neighborhood gate. That idea was dismissed as unworkable, though zoo staff did say they “would not start the pilot until there had been more community conversation.”
CPFAN appreciates that the plan has been paused to allow for more review. We welcome further collaboration between the city, the zoo, and nearby registered neighborhood organizations — including SCPNA and City Park West. We want to ensure that any future reopening of Gate 19 aligns with the Master Plan’s pedestrian-first vision and protects City Park for all who enjoy it.
City Park exists first and foremost to serve the public as a park. Thoughtful planning, open dialogue, and adherence to the park’s guiding principles will help ensure that both the Denver Zoo and City Park continue to thrive — together.
David Scarbeary is the president of City Park Friends and Neighbors. A native Denverite and neighbor of City Park for nearly four decades, he believes Denver’s parks are essential to public health, equity, and community connection. Learn more at cpfan.org.
A plan to open the long-closed west entrance at the Denver Zoo is on hold after City Park advocates and neighbors raised concerns about increasing car traffic and parking. File photo
Where Are Our Elected Leaders?
After 17 years of living in Denver in a variety of neighborhoods, Park Hill has truly won over my heart. There are a litany of reasons for this, including this newspaper’s local focus, our social action missions to put efforts beyond mere words, and the simple fact that I have made friends on my block because people are friendly and welcoming.
I am so proud that we have not one, but two fall street festivals that bring the community together. However, I have been astonished at the dearth of our local elected officials at these events. No elected officials were visible at the street fair on Montview Boulevard and Forest Parkway in late September.
As a blockworker, I received a flyer about the Oct. 13 Fall Fest at City of Axum Park being sponsored by city Councilwoman Shontel Lewis. Yet I was there for over two hours, and she never actually stopped by. (I heard that both state Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist and DPS School Board member
Michelle Quattlebaum were at the second festival, although there was no clear indication of this; how about a meet-and-greet table?)
Both of these events were well attended, the weather was stunning, and frankly, it’s a good old-fashioned fun time. Shame on those of our local politicians who seem eager for our votes at election time, but can’t seem to bother to spend any quality time with us on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to understand how to best serve us, their constituents.
Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” I wonder if our local leaders plan to ever show up and be part of our thoughtful group?
Miriam Kapner, Park Hill
Thinking Ahead To Spring
For anyone with perennials reseeding themselves around your mother plants, please consider leaving them in place until spring.
We are adding a plant sale to the Park Hill Garden Walk next year, and would welcome any donations from your gardens.
Around May 1, we are planning to pot the starts from our garden, including salvia, lambs ear, echinacea, assorted ground covers, lavender, euphorbia, jupiter’s beard, black eyed susans, Bee balm, trumpet vine, wild geraniums, nepeta, and the 4 o’clocks that come up every year and don’t have room to grow. They should be in good shape by the June 7 Garden Walk. Having these starts readily available at the event will help new gardeners put their dreams into motion at the perfect time of year and offer starts at an affordable price.
We have a mini greenhouse in our basement, so if anyone wants to drop off the starts after potting them in the spring, we can finish the process for you. Check back for updates in these pages early next spring for details of where and when to drop your plant starts. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Greater Park Hill Community food programs.
—Colleen
Gill, Park Hill
What’s For Dinner?
Do More. Do Less. Do Something! I’m referring to Tracey MacDermott’s Climate Crisis column, Watch Out, Apocalypse, in the September issue. MacDermott outlines Denver Climate Project’s new publicity strategy to get us all engaged in doing our part to help solve the climate crisis. The column lists a myriad of actions we can take on a daily basis to create less impact on our planet. Very helpful! And may I suggest one more action for the “Do Less” category? Eat Less Meat.
Talking about food is hard. We take it very personally. But. Yes. And… “But meat tastes so good.” “Yes, it’s high in protein.” And industrial farming has a tremendous impact on our climate. 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by cattle burps and pig manure, which traps heat within our atmosphere. Animal waste from factory farms pollutes our waterways with nutrients, causing algae blooms and dead zones. Raising meat requires vast amounts of water. In fact, beef production alone uses approximately 1,800 gallons of water per pound of beef. Other factors include the deforestation of the Amazon for grazing pasture and feed production, increasing meat consumption around the world, and the cruelty of the industry in general.
All of this is hard to hear, I know. Folks, I’m not suggesting you flip the switch and go all-in to become vegetarian or vegan (vegans are hard core).
I’m just saying that maybe next time you ask, “What’s for dinner?” you might consider a plant-based, meat-
less option. By lowering our carbon footprint, one meal at a time, we can move the Earth’s climate in a more sustainable direction.
Mona Estrada, Park Hill vegetarian
This fall, longtime Park Hill resident Mary Lee Chin won Alpine Bank’s community recipe contest for her Chinese Long Life Noodles. The noodles, Chin says, accommodates vegetarians and omnivores, spice-lovers and the spice-shy. Her recipe is at alpinebankcookbook.com.
We love your letters, and we give preference to those that address an issue 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.
FRANÇAIS ESPAÑOL DENVERLANGUAGESCHOOL
is reflected in one of those public art pieces — one of strength, resilience, love, joy and change.
Park Hill Leaders
History Of The Babbs Award, And Past Recipients
Dr. J. Carlton Babbs was a minister at Park Hill United Methodist Church from 1955 until his death in 1978. He helped organize the Park Hill Action Committee and was a key supporter of integration in Park Hill beginning in the mid-50s, working with other faith leaders and activists in the neighborhood to eliminate barriers to housing and church membership on the basis of race, sex or national origin.
The Park Hill Action Committee subsequently became the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC), a registered neighborhood organization. Historically, GPHC’s impact on integration, zoning, schools, justice and legislation for the community has been widely recognized.
After Dr. Babbs died, the clergy of Park Hill decided that an annual community service award in his memory would be a fitting tribute to the neighborhood’s outstanding leaders.
1980 – Robert Hickman
1981 – Helen B. Evans
1982 – Jules H. Mondschein
1983 – Marjorie Gilbert
1984 – Madeleine Hegarty
1985 – Issac and Marie White
1986 – Karen Salimon
1987 – Art and Bea Branscombe
1988 – John and Gladys Bates
1989 – Mary Ann McClain
1990 – Henry Turner
1991 – William R. “Bill” Turner
2003 – Sarah Lee Foster
2004 – Geneva Goldsby
2005 – Linda L. Elliott
2006 – Bob Homiak
2007 – Roz Wheeler-Bell
2008 – Roberta Locke
2009 – Lyle Hansen
2010 – Susan Schneider Homick
2011 – Lynn Smith
2012 – Tracey MacDermott
2013 – Bernadette Kelly
2014 – Kate Sultan
In ways large and small, Leslie Williams has continued that legacy. Williams grew up in Ohio, in a neighborhood much like Montbello. She traces her inspiration for wanting to be a librarian to her days as a child, going to the library — but not seeing or meeting any librarians who looked like her. Williams moved to Park Hill in 2013, and says she is grounded in the community she works and plays in, and loves.
Williams constantly seeks out creative ways to promote literacy for all. For 12 years she has, along with her partners at the Park Hill Branch Library, contributed to the monthly At The Library columns in the Greater Park Hill News, promoting library happenings and monthly programs.
1992 – Gerald “Jerry” Kopel
1993 – Cynthia C. Kahn
1994 – Emmett F. Wallace
1995 – Liz Cruder
1996 – Patricia B. Clarke
1997 – Dr. Robbie Bean
1998 – Lewis and Bernice Watts
2015 – Heather Shockey
2016 – Lynn Kalinauskas
2017 – Claudia Fields
2018 – Blair Taylor
2019 – The Bresler Family
2020 – LeAnn Anderson
2021 – Pastor Nathan Adams
“I love books, I love community and I want to help others in the community reach their potential through literacy,” she has said. “I want to be remembered as someone who cared, and I want to make sure everyone succeeds.” ✦
1999 – Algene and Odell Holleman
2000 – Richard Pickett
2001 – Ann Long
2002 – Marietta “Jo” Mosby
10/27/25, 10:54 AM Park Hill News Print (1) png
2022 – Deb Rosenbaum
2023 – Woody Garnsey and Penfield Tate
2024 – Mary Salsich
Pauline Robinson library staffers, from left, Marilyn Ventura, Morgan Barnes, Rhea Oberst, Quay Waddles, Jesse Elston, Leslie Williams.
Fracking And Young People
Babies And Children Are Particularly Vulnerable To Health Hazards From Drilling
By Maria Chansky, MD | For the GPHN
As a family physician on the Western Slope, I am extremely concerned about the impact of fracking on the health of young people. Studies are accumulating that demonstrate a significant increase in pediatric health problems experienced by youngsters living in close proximity to fracking sites. Specific concerns include poor pregnancy and birth outcomes, elevated rates and severity of asthma attacks, and increased risks of leukemia.
Fracking is a mining operation in which high pressure liquid (a mix of water, sand and chemicals) is pumped into shale rock to create large cracks that release oil and natural gas. This process may lead to groundwater contamination and create air pollution.
toxins, so they are unable to expel or excrete them.
There is a concerning spectrum of poor pregnancy and birth outcomes for women living near fracking sites. They have higher risks of delivering babies prematurely, with low birth weight, and with birth defects.
It is critical that we re-evaluate existing drinking water policies and fracking regulations.
Colorado has more than 48,000 oil and gas wells. The most active fracking operations are on the Western Slope. The Front Range is also impacted — including 160 new wells planned near the Aurora Reservoir southeast of Park Hill.
A study by researchers at the University of Rochester indicates that fracking-related chemicals are showing up in municipal water systems.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Services notes that any combustion process (such as burning off excess natural gas) releases toxic chemicals into the air.
At multiple fracking development sites, hazardous air pollutants have been detected at levels that exceed health-based standards.
According to the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, babies and children are particularly vulnerable to health impacts secondary to fracking for multiple reasons. They eat, drink and breathe more than adults on a pound-for-pound basis. This increases the quantity of toxins that they will ingest and breathe relative to their body weights. Their immune systems are immature, so they have less protection against ingested substances. Their bodies also lack the ability to process these
A 2022 study conducted by the University of Rochester demonstrated that for every new well drilled within one kilometer of a public drinking water source, there is an 11 to 13 percent increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. Other studies have demonstrated elevated rates of extremely preterm deliveries and even early infant death. Further, communities that include more people with low incomes or people of color, are more likely to be near fracking sites, and disproportionately impacted.
There is a tremendous gap between the pediatric health impacts of fracking and the amount of regulation surrounding this industry. Of more than 1,100 shale gas contaminants associated with fracking, only 29 are regulated in drinking water.
It is critical that we re-evaluate existing drinking water policies and fracking regulations. The Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit recommends close surveillance of water and air quality near fracking sites, rigorous scientific studies to evaluate the health of children living near sites, required disclosure of all fracking chemicals, and regular testing of private wells for contaminants. Please contact your legislators, and members of the Colorado Water Quality Control Division and Commission to advocate for stricter regulation and monitoring around fracking sites.
Dr. Maria Chansky is a family physician living on Colorado’s Western Slope.
One Billion And Climbing Solar Panels Will Eventually Flame Out. The Industry Is Ready To Recycle
By Mark Kuhl | For the GPHN
More than one billion solar panels were produced last year — and this number is climbing fast.
Demand for recycling these panels will naturally ramp up, as these devices become damaged or reach the end of their productive life. The solar industry respects the environment and does not want its products buried in a landfill. (Solar panels also contain valuable materials like aluminum, silver, copper and more.)
Nearly 10 years ago, the industry launched an initiative to certify solar panel recyclers. The list of approved solar panel recyclers continues to grow — including the latest highly-automated operation, SOLARCYCLE, in North Carolina.
For more about recycling solar panels, check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s website at epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-recycling.
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/.
A Forest Oasis
On Oct. 11, students and their families, joined by volunteers from local conservation groups, planted the region’s first pocket forest at Marie L. Greenwood Early-8 school in the Montbello neighborhood northeast of Park Hill. A pocket forest is a small and densely vegetated area filled with trees, shrubs, and other indigenous plants. As the forest grows up and out, it helps make the surrounding neighborhood cooler, improves air quality and provides homes for animals and insects. This particular pocket forest will also provide STEM learning opportunities for Marie L. Greenwood students and will connect them to the outdoors. Photos by Cara DeGette
Mystery Of The Missing Porch
Search For The Truth Unmasks A Wild Tale Of Dynamite, A Man Blown To Bits And A Dive Back In Time When Shock And Scandal Dominated The Headlines
By Cara DeGette | GPHN Editor
Hand-drawn map showing the exploding car and where the head and body parts landed, from the June
It was an explosion that turned Park Hill from a quiet residential district into what one reporter described as “a bedlam of hysterical humanity.”
By 1930, the era of yellow journalism had largely morphed into a style called Jazz Journalism — coverage that also leaned heavily into the scandalous and salacious, often accompanied with provocative and graphic photographs.
Spohn quickly tracked down the June 6, 1930 Denver Post. (Page 1 headline: YOUTH KILLED AND PARK HILL HOMES SHAKEN BY DYNAMITE BLAST IN AUTO)
“There are a bunch of articles about the explosion in Park Hill, all competing to be more gory than the other,” Spohn noted. “There’s even a map of where the driver’s head ended up compared to his body! And of course several articles about the ‘chum’ who narrowly missed death.”
Last month’s issue included a fine contribution, by Rebecca Zimmerman, that detailed several shiver-inducing ghost stories that ripple through Park Hill this time of year. One anecdote recalled a dynamite explosion that occurred nearly a century ago. Dennis Phillips, a miner in his early 20s, had been driving down 23rd Avenue with five sticks of dynamite in his car when it exploded. Phillips was blown to bits, and the force of the blast was felt miles away.
Matt Spohn, who lives at 23rd and Ash Street, followed up with an email:
“Hi, first let me say how much I enjoy the Greater Park Hill News ! I think I’ve read every copy cover-tocover since we moved here almost 20 years ago. “But I wanted to ask about the page 1 article in [the October] edition, The Spirits Awaken. You have a great description of a 1930 dynamite explosion at 23rd and Ash. Where did you get that info? We live right on the corner, at 2309 Ash St. We have heard broad strokes of this story for many years, but I’ve never been able to track down the details.
“I’m especially interested because a 1919 photo of our house shows a wrap-around porch on our house that is no longer there, and we have heard that it was destroyed in that dynamite explosion. I’d love to dig into your source materials if you don’t mind.”
Zimmerman happily supplied the reference material. It came straight from the June 6, 1930 issue of the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News, which included multiple stories about the blast and this screamer of a page 1 headline:
“DENVER MAN BLOWN TO BITS WHEN DYNAMITE EXPLODES IN CAR, ROCKING ALL OF PARK HILL”
Jumping Jehoshaphat! In my response to Mr. Spohn, I noted that, while Zimmerman had duly reported that the unlucky fellow had been “blown to bits,” as the editor, I had removed that detail before publication in these pages. My thinking was that the gruesome description would be a bit over the top for some of our more delicate readers.
As it turns out, this is a fine reminder that today’s headlines are a far cry from the newspapers of our grandparents and great-grandparents. The turn of the last century was the heyday of yellow journalism, a style that was promoted by the legendary newsman William Randolph Hearst. Sensational headlines of violence, scandal and sex were the norm, crafted to grab readers and boost newspaper sales.
Both daily newspapers devoted several pages to the blast that rocked Park Hill. They included maps showing the locations of the head and body parts, photos of the blown-up car and crowds of people gathered to gooseneck at the scene. Here are some of the headlines:
• Parts Of Body, Pieces Of Car Hurled Block Away By Explosion
• Death, Destruction and Panic Ruled In Park Hill
• Residents in Panic as Houses Are Jarred And Windows Broken
• Houses Shaken In Mile Radius By Fatal Blast
• Blast Fails To Waken Baby Sleeping Nearby
• Friends Say Phillips Always Had Smiling Contempt For Danger
• Youth’s Body Fell Several Seconds After Blast
• Young Phillips Sacrificed Life In Dangerous Calling
• Family Did Not Know Explosive Was In Garage
• Blast Disproves Belief That Dynamite Explodes Downward
• Three Children Barely Escape Death In Blast
• Blast Draws Thousands To Park Hill Area
• Souvenir Hunters Carry Away Bits Of Phillips Car
The coverage included an interview with Mrs. W. W. Hamilton, whose family lived at 2309 Ash St. — where Spohn now calls home. The Queen Anne-style house suffered the worst of the damage, as it was less than 100 feet away from the blast. Every window was shattered in the deafening explosion. But, as evidenced in the accompanying photos, its wrap-around porch remained intact. “Someone must have taken it down later,” Spohn deduced, “likely to brighten things up inside.”
Full coverage of the June 6, 1930 dynamite explosion in Park Hill can be read at the following links: Rocky Mountain News : tinyurl. com/1930ParkHillBlastRMN
Denver Post : tinyurl.com/DPLMemberLogin (Use your DPL card to access.)
Portions of the front pages of the June 6, 1930 Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News
The house at 2309 Ash St., circa 1919, with the wrap-around porch intact. Denver Public Library Special Collections
[ TREASURE HUNT ]
Thane Benson is an award-winning Park Hill-based comic book writer, artist and game designer. This regular feature, Treasure Hunt, highlights different neighborhood architectural landmarks every month. Check out some of Benson’s other projects at thanebenson.com or on social media @thanebenson.
6, 1930 Denver Post
New Force In Futbol
Northfield Challenges East in Boys Soccer
Story and photo by Reid Neureiter | For the GPHN
Sept. 30 highlighted what may be the passing of the mantle from the DPS team that traditionally was the dominant force in boys soccer — East Angels — to the upstart Northfield Nighthawks. East has won three Colorado boys state soccer championships, and made two additional 5A finals, most recently in 2023. For its part, Northfield won 4A championships in 2021 and 2022. Last year, Northfield made the leap to the 5A division, and entered the playoffs with the No. 1 seed before falling in the state semi-finals. With this continued success, the Nighthawks seem poised to dethrone East as the DPS favorite to next take the 5A state title. Much of the credit goes to Northfield Coach Jason Keever, who has led the program since its founding in 2015. Among Coach Keever’s personal recognitions are those of CHSAA 4A State Coach of the Year, Denver Public Schools Coach of the Year, and the United Soccer Coaches Small Public School (2A, 3A, 4A) Colorado State Coach of the Year. With the Denver schools choice enrollment system, quality soccer players from northeast Denver who historically might have chosen East for a chance at a state title, now have Northfield as attractive option.
On Sept. 30, the 3rd-ranked Nighthawks dominated the 6th-ranked Angels, delivering a thorough 5-2 trouncing of the Angels on North-
Nighthawk senior Isaias Bonilla controls the ball out of the air during Northfield’s 5-2 win over East on Sept. 30.
Northfield dominated possession with a crisp passing game that sliced through the Angel’s midfield. East’s over-thetop running game was no match for the Nighthawk’s deft controlled play. A solo run culminating in a near-post shot and goal early in the second half by Nighthawk senior winger Adrian Rodriguez put Northfield up 3-0, and the game effectively out of reach.
On Oct. 23, however, in the concluding game of the regular season, the Angels bounced back. East delivered a 2-1 hard-fought rematch win over the Nighthawks, giving Northfield its only loss of the regular season. East’s goals came from Senior Gavin Barringer and Junior Jacob Danzer.
At the conclusion of the regular season, Northfield’s record stood at 13-1-1, while East’s record was 11-1-3. Both DPS squads can anticipate deep runs in the state playoffs, which started Oct.
Giving Thanks
In Challenging Times, Let The Library Be Your Haven
Column and photo by
Suzanne Gelwick-Knight | For the GPHN
For me, the month of November evokes thoughts of gratitude and acts of giving thanks for things or people in our lives.
One of the reasons I became a librarian was to help people. At the library we often hear, “thank you for your help,” “thank you for being open” — and just plain old, “thank you.” These words mean more to us library staff than you know. Because there is always the flip side of those comments — the comments that aren’t so nice, ones which I will not share here.
With the city’s budget deficit, there are going to be some changes at the library, including mandatory furlough days. On these are days the library will be closed, along with most other city offices. Library staff do not get paid for this day. And while a day off without pay is better than being laid off, it still means a short paycheck. Your understanding about these closures is appreciated.
Another change you may or may not notice will be fewer staff working at the library. Any empty staffing positions are not being filled. You may experience a longer wait to be helped. Regarding this change, I’d like to say: thank you for being patient with us. We will always do our best to meet your needs, but it might not be as prompt as you are used to.
Please keep visiting the library. It is the best way to demonstrate the importance of the library to your community. ✦
November Library Programs
Note: All Denver libraries are closed on Tuesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans’ Day. Libraries are also closed Thursday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving and Friday, Nov. 29, for a city-mandated furlough day.
PARK HILL BRANCH
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers.
Toddler Storytimes | Fridays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
Qi Gong | Wednesday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m.-noon
Sometimes called “meditation in motion,” Qi Gong includes slow, dance-like movements to improve breathing, reduce stress, and gently move the body. All levels and abilities are welcome.
Aligning Life-Sustaining Decisions and Personal Values | Saturday, Nov. 8, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
A mid-level overview of life-prolonging measures with Dr. Maurice “Scotty” Scott, to make the best decisions for yourself and
guide the process as scenarios unfold.
Tween and Teen Game On | Friday, Nov. 14, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
A safe and fun place for teens to play various tabletop and card games. Team up with friends or fly solo. All are welcome.
Park Hill Writers’ Workshop | Thursday, Nov. 13, 1:30-3 p.m.
Teaching artist Andrea Asali will lead a workshop on crafting compelling characters and bringing stories to life. No registration required. All levels of writers are welcome. Refreshments provided.
No Strings Attached | Saturday, Nov. 15, 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.
Medicare 101 | Monday, Nov. 17, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
New to Medicare or need updated information on plan options? Get unbiased advice with no sales pitch from counselors at Benefits In Action on the A, B, C and Ds of Medicare. Check out benefitsinaction.org for more information.
Tween and Teen Advisory Board (TAB) | Tuesday, Nov. 18, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join the Tween & Teen Advisory Board to
share ideas, shape library events, and help create a welcoming space for everyone.
Meets monthly.
Kids Book Celebration | Thursday, Nov. 20, 4-5 p.m.
This month we will read fiction or nonfiction books about magic tricks and learn how to do some magic tricks from Magic Rob. Space is limited.
November Party | Saturday, Nov. 22, 2–2:40 p.m.
The library welcomes Onyx the juvenile velociraptor. Onyx is 14 feet long and 7 feet tall, and brings 65 million years of fun and adventure to the library.
Death Café | Monday, Nov. 24, 2-3:30 p.m.
Death Café is an international movement that invites people to gather and normalize conversations around death, to make the most of LIFE. Respect for all views is a priority.
PAULINE ROBINSON BRANCH
Toddler Storytime | Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their grown-ups.
Drop in Tech Help | Wednesdays, 2 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 to get your questions answered and learn how to use tech more effectively.
Navajo Tessellation Craft | Thursday, Nov. 6, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Learn about the Navajo weaving technique, and make cool, paper tessellation patterns in your choice of colors to take home. BINGO! | Thursday, Nov. 13, 4:15-5:15 p.m.
Play Bingo and win prizes. We’ll have snacks and fun.
Log Cabins and Homemade Butter | Thursday, Nov. 20, 4:15-5:15 p.m. Build log cabins from Lincoln Logs and make butter from milk the way the pilgrims did. It’s hard work, so we’ll take turns. Then we can enjoy our homemade butter on some corn cakes.
Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, Nov. 22, noon-1:30 p.m. This month we will be discussing by R.F. Kuang. All are welcome.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Park Hill branch library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. and the Pauline Robinson branch library at 5575 E. 33rd Ave.
Running With The Pronghorn
Plains Conservation Center Provides The Chance To See These Fast And Famously Skittish Creatures
By Reid Neureiter | For the GPHN
Capable of sustained speeds of 50 miles per hour or more, the pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America. Worldwide, its cruising speed is second only to the cheetah.
According to a 2022 estimate by the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, Colorado has a healthy pronghorn herd of more than 70,000 animals. More than 40 percent of those animals live on the high plains of southeastern Colorado. In addition to the eastern plains, pronghorns — sometimes mistakenly called antelope — are also found in several mountain valleys and sagebrush rangelands in northwestern Colorado.
All that said, getting a relatively close view of a pronghorn in the wild is not usually an easy feat. The small ungulates, colored lightbrown and white to blend with the prairie grassland, are famously skittish. If they perceive a threat, they will take off running at top speed.
Conservation Center, says visitors exploring some of the trails are almost guaranteed to get a good view of pronghorn in action. This proved accurate during two early October visits by this Greater Park Hill News reporter.
Fall romances
In the fall, pronghorn display rutting behavior similar to elk and mule deer. A mature buck rounds up a “harem” of six to 12 does. It spends the mating season chasing off any competing males — while also racing after and corralling any females who may wander off.
If they perceive a threat, they will take off running at top speed.
But just 15 miles from Park Hill, in east Aurora, is a 1,100-acre education center and nature preserve — the Plains Conservation Center — with a resident herd of approximately 70 pronghorn. The center also provides 6.5 miles of hiking trails across rolling natural short-grass prairie. Entry is free.
Naturalist Fendi Despres, the steward of the Plains
Young pronghorn will be born in late May and early June. According to Despres, most does give birth to twins, who will be up and running with their mother within a day or two.
The Plains Conservation Center is part of Aurora’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Open Space. In addition to pronghorn, the Center’s prairie grassland is home to numerous other creatures endemic to the plains, including coyotes, prairie dogs, badgers, skunks, rattlesnakes, hawks, songbirds and a nesting pair of bald eagles.
The Center also provides educational programming about the history of the great plains. A tipi camp pays tribute to the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes who once inhabited this area, and replica sod
houses demonstrate how homesteaders first lived on the land. Other features include antique (and dilapidated) farming implements that were used to cultivate the land.
Getting hemmed in
The Center and its surrounding area also provide a warning about the pressures of modernization that the pronghorn and other inhabitants of the high plains are facing.
The City of Aurora’s endless housing developments have expanded to abut the western and southern borders of the preserve, with an array of solar panels and C-470 to the east and Buckley Air Force Base to the north. Despres says the Center’s pronghorn herd is hemmed in and can no longer migrate.
According to the website of the state Department of Parks and Wildlife, challenges to the long-term survival of the pronghorn species in Colorado “include but are not limited to drought, management on private lands, energy and housing development, along with loss of connectivity across the landscape.”
The Plains Conservation Center is 15 miles east of Park Hill, at 21901 E. Hampden Ave. Winter hours are Monday through Friday from Nov. 1 through the end of February, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Beginning Dec. 1, portions of the hiking trails will be restricted due to the nesting of bald eagles. For more information, check out tinyurl.com/PlainsCenter. ✦
A mature pronghorn buck chases down a female at the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora in early October.
A group of pronghorn does at the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora.
A young pronghorn buck, with a tipi camp in the background. The camp is a tribute to the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, who once inhabited the area.
The Power Of Community
In These Troubled Times, Be Kind And Look Out For Your Neighbors
By Gary Martyn | For the GPHN
I lost a dear friend recently, and this loss got my mind buzzing, thinking of friendship, history, and of community.
I met my friend in 7th grade at Smiley Jr. High (now McAuliffe). We remained fast friends until his death. There was a group of us that met that year and we have had our Smiley community ever since. We have celebrated together, mourned together, and leaned on each other for support, guidance and fellowship. It really is something to have a 60-year shared experience.
The Park Hill experience
I am the only one still in Park Hill, but the Park Hill experience has stayed with all of us, a bond that runs deep. When we get together, inevitably the stories flow of growing up in this neighborhood. Park Hill is much different now on many levels, yet pretty much the same in other respects. My friend’s family is Jewish, and they graciously invited me to share in many of the High Holy Day meals they celebrated. Those celebrations showed me early on the power of family, faith and fellowship. I’ve been grateful for this my whole life.
of Park
My dad was a member of the Park Hill Action Committee, which advocated for integration and inclusion in a very turbulent time. It was much later that I figured out how important this group was to Park Hill, and it probably fostered my desire to belong and participate in our community. The Greater Park Hill News grew out of this organization, and we should all cherish it.
It’s not only joining groups that define participating in community. Day-today interactions with neighbors, looking out for others on your block or in your building, a simple hello to those you pass while walking, helping out a stranger in need — all these contribute to the community. I like to garden, and in the summer I take produce to the farmer’s table at the Greater Park Hill Community office on Fairfax Street, to share with neighbors. The best part about that is the chance to meet some interesting folks.
The phone rang
We lost our dog last summer, my walking companion. I tried to keep taking walks, even though the fun was gone. One day I ran into a neighbor, Tony, and he knew immediately why I was by
myself. We have known each other for years but were not particularly close. Well, about a week or so later, my phone rang. It was Tony, asking if I wanted to go walking with him and his dogs. Just like that I had dogs to walk, and Tony and I really enjoy each other’s company. It’s really cool to make a new friend at my age. Later, Pam, a neighbor a little further away, invited me to walk one of her Golden Retrievers — dogs I’m a sucker for anyhow. I gratefully accepted. This is community.
The Blizzard of ’82
I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to live in Park Hill for so long. I sit and think about some of the crazy times, like the Christmas blizzard of 1982, which paralyzed the city for days. On our block, as with many, we organized trips to the grocery store with those who had four-wheel drives, as the roads were such a mess. I ferried a neighbor to her nursing shift because she couldn’t get her car out. There was an old guy on the block who had a beast of a snowblower. He loaned it to a few of us, and we eventually got everyone dug out. Times are much different now. People
turned out on Sunday, Sept. 12, for an afternoon of thrills and games, facepainting,
cotton candy and plenty of camaraderie at the 3rd annual Fall Fest at City of
Park. Fall Fest, sponsored by Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., is designed to celebrate community and also the hundreds of blockworkers who deliver the Greater Park Hill News PhotosbyCaraDeGette
are more mobile. Denver is also much bigger and spread out. But the sense of community is not dependent on any of this. It’s what we make of it every day with our interactions with one another.
Treasure this community. It really is special. By no means is it the only one in Denver, but it’s ours. Participate in it. We are all better off when we do. ✦
Who We Are, What We Do
The Board of Directors of GPHC, Inc.
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organization that promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill, provides resources, information and advocacy, and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation. GPHC world headquarters is 2823 Fairfax St. If you have an issue you’d like to discuss about the neighborhood, reach out to your board representative. Representatives can be contacted via the main office, at 303388-0918 or info@greaterparkhill.org. If you are interested in volunteering for a board position or serving on a committee, contact GPHC Board Chair Shane Sutherland at chair@greaterparkhill.org.
• Board Chair Shane Sutherland
• Treasurer Heather Shockey
• Secretary Bernadette Kelly
• District 1 Kevin Doyle
• District 2 Brenda Morrison
• District 3 Heather Shockey
• District 4 Currently Vacant
• District 5 Bernadette Kelly
• District 6 Currently Vacant
• District 7 Jon Bowman
• District 8 Nam Henderson
• District 9 Terry Brewick
• District 10 James Korn • At Large Bruce Campbell
• At Large Mona Estrada
• At Large Maria Flora
• At Large Tracey MacDermott
• At Large Louis Plachowski lplachowski@gmail.com
• At Large Shane Sutherland
• Blessed Sacrament Betsy Boudreau
• Park Hill UMC Jacqui Shumway
Gary Martyn, at Campus Mosaic with Liam in May, 2024. File photo by Cara DeGette
Dozens
Hillians
hotdogs,
Axum
Mantis At Sunrise
Even in silhouette, praying mantises are some of the most distinctive and wellrecognized of all insect groups. But not all mantises are equal. The Chinese mantis, pictured here, is the largest such species in North America, with adults reaching up to five inches long. Unlike smaller species found in Colorado, Chinese mantises are considered invasive predators, as they are large enough to capture butterflies and overwhelm the natural order in backyard gardens. Mantids survive winter as eggs, with up to 100 enclosed in a single casing. In the spring they hatch, and make their homes in fields and gardens. This Chinese mantis was photographed at sunrise at Bluff Lake by Mark Silverstein.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
26 YR Licensed General Contractor in South Park Hill and Lead-Based Paint Abatement Firm All Phases of Remodeling. Small jobs OK! Mold and Mildew Remediation Power Spray Denver Dust, Off Exteriors
Call Mark-303-921-3161 pikerprojects@gmail.com – All Remodeling usabatement@yahoo.com –Lead-Based Paint
GUTTERS
Gutter Cleaning, repairs, and replacement. Gutter Cleaning prices start at $150 – House, Garage, Porches, and walks. 303-907-9223/skmehaffey@ gmail.com
MASONRY SERVICES
Masonry Services- Brick, Stone, Concrete repairs, restoration, tuckpointing, chimneys, retaining walls, city sidewalks; planter boxes. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
Mason – Brick, stone, chimney repair, historic renovation. Your Park Hill Expert. Fully Insured,
free estimates. Call Ben @720670-0874.
PAINTING
Interior and exterior painting. Prep, power washing, professional. Owned and operated by Park Hill resident with over 20 years of experience. Free estimate. JR Painting 720-4857207 or jpabz04@gmail.com
Painting: Interior, exterior, small jobs welcome; sheetrock repairs and texture. 303-9079223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
Plaster
We repair plaster and drywall, specializing in older homes. Now in our 27 th year. The Wall Rebuilders 303-6981057 www.wallrebuilders.com
ROOFING
Roofing: Repairs, Inspections, Flashings, Hail Damage, and reroofing licensed, bonded, and insured. Gutter replacement and cleaning. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
TUCKPOINTING
Over 25 years of experience. Fully insured. Mortar color and brick matching, broken brick
replacement, cement chimney crown replacement. 12 years Chicago union experience. Mr. Chimney and Home Masonry Repair. Call Chuck Bahnsen 303-948-7999
VOLUNTEER
Be a Local Hero — Volunteer with Greater Park Hill News! We rely on volunteers to distribute the newspaper each month. Distributing the paper means “adopting” a block and delivering the newspaper to each home. It’s a great activity for kids and families to do together, and takes just about 15 minutes. Interested in supporting your community newspaper and helping to get the news out? Contact us at newspaper@ greaterparkhill.org or visit greaterparkhill.org/newspaper for more information and to sign up.
WINDOWS
Complete wood window restoration. Custom wood storm windows and screens. General painting, restoration and handyman services for your charming old home. Contact Matt 479-871-8140
To advertise in the Classifieds contact newspaper@greaterparkhill.org 720-287-0442 (voicemail). the deadline for submission is the 15th of every month
[ GREATER PARK HILL RESOURCES ]
Active Minds
Free lectures on topics ranging from music to history, current events to foreign affairs, including in and near Park Hill. A schedule of upcoming events is at activeminds.com.
Art Garage
6100 E. 23rd Ave., artgaragedenver.com, 303-377-2353. Nonprofit visual art community center offering artsbased programs for people of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels. Check out ArtGarageDenver.com.
Denver Police District 2
3921 Holly St., 2.Dist@denvergov.org, non-emergency number is 720-913-1000. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1 Denver Public Schools dpsk12.org
Check the website for resources and updates. Call the helpline at 720-423-3054 for support in many languages. Donations Resources
An online directory of groups and organizations who accept donations of all types — from clothes and furniture to bikes and baby essentials. greaterparkhill.org/spreading-the-love/ Faith Community greaterparkhill.org/faith
Greater Park Hill’s faith community, home to over 30 places of worship in just four square miles, is as diverse and robust as the neighborhood itself. GPHN maintains a list of Park Hill’s places of worship at the website above. Contact individual places of worship for information about their current state of operations.
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. 2823 Fairfax St., greaterparkhill.org, 303-388-0918
GPHC community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of the month, except for December and July. The next meeting is Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at 2823 Fairfax St. Check greaterparkhill. org/join-us/community-meetings/ for info.
Libraries
denverlibrary.org
See the “At the Library” feature on page 12 for updates and resources offered by the Park Hill and Pauline Robinson branch libraries.
Northeast Park Hill Coalition
The Northeast Park Hill Coalition hosts its monthly meeting the second Thursdays each month. Location varies. Check the group’s Facebook page @ Northeast Park Hill Coalition for updates.
Park Hill Community Bookstore
Established in 1971. Denver’s oldest nonprofit bookstore. Used and new books. 4620 E. 23rd Avenue. 303-355-8508. Members and volunteers get discounts and book credits. Check parkhillbookstore.org for hours of operation.
Park Hill Peloton
A recreational group of road cyclists that roll from Park Hill once or twice a week. Check the current status of their rides on the Park Hill Peloton Facebook page.
Sie Filmcenter
2510 E. Colfax, denverfilm.org, 303-595-3456.
Walk2Connect
www.walk2connect.com
Sunrise Walking Trips happen every Tuesday from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Meet in front of Honey Hill Cafe at 23rd & Dexter Street for a casual, conversational-paced community walk. Everyone is welcome.
by Margot K Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ | For the GPHN
For the Cats
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported in the 2024 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook that roughly 42 million cats were “owned” in the U.S.
Several other surveys in the past few years estimate that only 48 percent of cats receive annual veterinary care. Roughly 39 percent of cat owners report that they seek care only if their cat is injured or ill. Cat owners, if this is you, you’re doing a disservice to your cats.
Why? Because these wonderful creatures need preventive care and still get sick –especially as they get older.
Cats are absolute pros at hiding illness until they simply can’t.
environmental contaminant in soil, water and elsewhere.
Cats are absolute pros at hiding illness until they simply can’t.
Hiding how they feel means that we veterinarians are often at a disadvantage in caring for a sick cat, because their illnesses are not acute, but chronic.
The majority of cats are indoors and spend much of their time asleep, so somehow there is a belief that they cannot be exposed to disease or parasites. Wrong! We humans can track viruses, parasites and bacteria inside. For many cats, their disease state is part of growing older, and they may develop specific diseases such as painful dental diseases, diabetes or cancer.
How do you protect your cats and give them their longest and healthiest life? See your veterinarian annually through the prime years (less than 10 years old) and then every six months when they reach senior status.
For the Dogs
Leptospirosis, a bacteria, is one of many threats to animal and human health across the globe. Formerly thought of as primarily a tropical disease, leptospirosis is now found all over the world — but it is thriving particularly well in our cities, due to rats. Those stealthy creatures shed leptospirosis in their urine, which then can infect humans and other animals. Dogs are particularly at risk, since the bacteria is an
The results of a six-year, multi-disciplinary study by Tufts University published in the research journal, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, as part of the Boston Urban Rat Study, showed a significant number of rats test positive for leptospira bacteria. The risk to humans is less than for canines, but still possible. Human exposure due to direct contact with rats in uncommon — higher risk populations are the unhoused and outdoor drug users. Our dogs in an urban environment, such as downtown Denver, can more easily be exposed to leptospirosis outside apartment buildings, areas with slow-moving or stagnant water, or contaminated soil.
Leptospira enters the body via mucosal membranes (mouth, nose, etc.) and attaches to cells that line blood vessels (endothelial cells) which can make it harder for blood to clot normally. The bacteria spreads throughout the body and affects organs, most notably the liver and kidneys. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and sometimes becomes lifethreatening.
Common and somewhat vague clinical signs may include fever, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, soreness, lethargy and weakness. If caught, leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics, but some dogs may end up with chronic kidney or liver disease.
Dogs can be protected against leptospirosis with an annual vaccination against the four most common serovars (distinct variations within the leptospira species) found in the United States.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit parkhillvet.com
