Music, magic, movement: Zoo programs keep animals happy and engaged
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance takes unique approach to enrichment
BY NATALIE KERR
e commonalities between humans and other primates are extensive: Biology, opposable thumbs, lifespan — and a fascination with magic.
At least gorillas and orangutans at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance took a strong interest in magic tricks, when performed by local Denver magician Gerald Robinson. It was new for him too, performing without
card tricks or using dialogue to add intrigue to the magic show, the magician said.
“I totally did prepare for this in a really weird way, because I’m like, what are apes going to understand? I can’t have them pick a card,” Robinson said. “I thought a lot of stu had to be very visual, and very much grounded in the sense of reality and our sights, smells, hearing.”
Experiences like this are part of DZCA’s behavioral husbandry program, which focuses on animal training and enrichment. Zoo sta employ stimuli, like toys, perfumes and spices, food, climbing apparati and more to keep the animals mentally and physically active, said Heather Genter, behavioral husbandry manager.
More than a game
Activities set out to trigger behaviors seen in animals’ natural environments, said Animal Care Specialist Christa Klein. If an animal typically has to hunt for their food, the enrichment program focuses on motivating them to use critical thinking, strength or dexterity to get to a snack.
“It’s very valuable for them to spend that time, we want to try to have them mimic what they would do in their natural habitats, so if they’re going to spend a lot of time nding food, it’s important for us to feed them doing the same thing here, so that their brain is constantly thinking about new things and we’re presenting them with new challenges,” Klein said.
Wild cats on the November ballot
Ballot measure seeks to protect
big cats from hunting, trapping
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Buddy the mountain lion peers from behind a grassy knoll at the visitors looking at him through a fence at a windy corner of the 33,000-acre Wildlife Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg this week. e facility is home to over 950 animals that have been abused and locked up in basements and cages and then displayed by callous owners looking to squeeze a pro t from the animal’s captivity.
Buddy was part of a caged exhibit in a Des Moines, Iowa shopping mall for several years until he was rescued and taken to the Sanctuary to live out his life in peace, said founder Pat Craig.
While in the mall, Buddy’s enclosure was among others that housed big cats as well as bears and more wildlife, Craig said. “It was awful, an absolute mess,” he said. “It was not a place for a wild animal like Buddy.”’
Buddy seems to appreciate his new home in the wide expanse of the sanctuary, about 25 miles east of Denver. “He can stay just around his den and enjoy the fresh air and natural environment,” Craig said. “I think he’s found his forever home here.”
Activists used the backdrop of the Wildlife Sanctuary to celebrate the placement of Ballot Issue 91 on the November ballot. e wild cats at the Sanctuary – wildcats, cougars, tigers and lions – also illustrated the need for a law to protect wild felines from trophy hunters, activists said.
Observant orangutans watch for the magician’s next sleight of hand maneuver.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF STONIC
Traveling tea room a comfort for grieiving grandmother
BY CARL KNAUF SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
July 2019 was Lisa Beltezore’s favorite month with her grandson, Alastor Avery.
A bittersweet layo gave her the uncertainty of a professional future but also the free time to play and bond with the family’s newest addition.
One month later, Alastor passed away.
“It was amazing to spend all that time with him, not knowing we were going to lose him,” Beltezore said as a choke interrupts the cadence of her memories.
“ ere are a lot of questions in your mind that you go through,” she said. “I couldn’t function for a good couple of years.”
Beltezore wears three charms around her neck as a constant reminder of her grandson. She ddles with them as her knuckles brush over the goosebumps on her collar that rise every time she mentions his name. A silver “A” and a little teapot dangle on both sides of a beautiful blue gem that matches the sparkling hue of her late grandson’s eyes.
Alastor is the inspiration behind Beltezore’s mobile tea room, Grammie’s Little Teapot.
A busy mind
e idea for the business was brewed after one of Alastor’s wellness checks indicated that he was short and stout when it came to percentiles. Beltezore shared that his stature became a warmhearted anecdote between grandmother and grandbaby. She would sing “I’m A Little Teapot” to him whenever he was upset. He had a handle on her heart as his giggles would jet through his smile.
en the unthinkable occurred: Alastor was 7 months old when he died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
And then, after one of many reective evenings, her business mind took over.
Grammie’s Little Teapot was born with the intention to provide comfort for all in need, including herself and the rest of Alastor’s family. Beltezore decided she could brand and sell tea “in his honor.”
“I developed an online presence, brought in some private labels, and I decided … I’m going to take this and help other people that are grieving,” she explained.
Grammie’s Little Teapot is operated by Beltezore and her partner in business and life, Caroline Shengle. e couple has a history of developing products and businesses together, once o ering a pet product that garnered both local and national attention.
eir mobile tearoom is run out of a trailer they designed and built-out themselves. Beltezore and Shengle will park and lay down the ramp at various locations and farmer’s mar-
A cup of tea for community
kets around Colorado, o ering a full tea bar and a variety of teas and accessories for customers to peruse and purchase, as well as a heartwarming story if curiosity is piqued.
“I love to tell (Alastor’s) story and reach out to people. ere’s been countless people that have said, `I lost a baby too’,” Beltezore explained.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cause of SIDS or sudden unexpected infant death is still unknown, but it is a term used to describe the sudden death of a baby less than a year of age. e CDC reports that there is about 3,400 deaths each year in the United States in which SIDS is determined the cause. Accidental su ocation and strangulation in bed fall within this category, as well, accounting for 27% of related deaths as of 2020.
“In the beginning, I didn’t want to know about anybody else’s pain or su ering. Nothing else mattered,” Beltezore shared. “Today, I’ve been able to turn that corner, get over that hump where I can look at other babies, I can hear about other’s story, they can tell me about their loss, because I can empathize with them and relate.”
e tearoom has o ered some sort of relief through commemoration, connotation and community. e space is cozy and inviting as customers can nd products hanging on the walls of the tearoom along with a picture of Alastor.
Grammie’s Little teapot o ers a variety of loose-leaf teas and accessories. ey carry chai, black, green, white and herbal blends, along with gift and comfort items.
Tea has been used in its natural from for warmth and comfort, but there are a range of blends that tend to speci c needs found in body and mind. Beltezore harnessed the healing power of tea by coining
“ e 7 Stages of Tea”, which correspond with the seven stages of grief: shock and denial, pain and guilt,
anger and bargaining, depression, upward turn, reconstruction, and acceptance and hope.
“What I nd is that a lot of moms that have lost their children … they weren’t allowed to talk about it, or they were encouraged to shove it under the rug,” Beltezore said. “ ey give me a hug, and they’re like, ` ank you for allowing me to share my story.’” rough memory and meaning comes support, which is strong not only in the loyal tea community, but through grief itself. Grammie’s Little Teapot not only supports and offers yearly donations to the American SIDS Institute, but also partners with the local community.
A bittersweet blend
Knot Forgotten is conveniently located on the main strip of Brighton, Colorado, tucked among a cluster of other local businesses. Not only do these local Brighton owners know each other, when one enters the other’s business, they also partake in uid conversation - the kind of chatter that is found between people who know each other well.
Owner and operator Tarynn Stewart has a background in woodworking and furniture restoration and, as a mother of six children, she started Knot Forgotten as a creative channel to not only continue her passion but form a space to showcase the local community. e business o ers a plethora of gifts and specialty items, most crafted in Colorado, and also hosts occasional events inside the shop - which include the presence of Grammie’s Little Teapot.
“ e fact that we connected was pretty amazing because it was total happenstance,” Beltezore said.
Beltezore has formed a strong relationship with Stewart, and not just through Stewart’s devotion to local vendors. ey share another bond through grief.
Beltezore said Stewart had reached out to her and asked if she would like to have her tea available
at Knot Forgotten. After Stewart visited Grammie’s Little Teapot’s website and read Alastor’s story, she realized there was a deeper connection.
In March 2021, Stewart gave birth to her son, Elijah, at 21 weeks. He was stillborn.
“ at seemed like a magical force that kind of brought us together, in that sense, because she didn’t know, and here we are with similar stories of building a business around our loss and trying to … really build and support our community through our common struggles.” ese are the connections that help drive support throughout various groups.
Steeped in support
One group located in Denver, Angel Eyes is a nonpro t that o ers grief support to families impacted by unexpected deaths of infants or toddlers under the age of 12 months, including pregnancy loss. e organization’s services include individual, peer and group counseling for adults and children.
The interior of the Lisa Beltezore’s traveling tea room Grammies Little Teapot.
PHOTO BY CARL KNAUF
Lisa Beltezore, owner of Grammies Little Teapot. COURTESY PHOTO
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As the Real Estate Market Shifts, We’re in Uncharted Territory Thanks to NAR Settlement
Sunday was the deadline for one very significant change in the practice of real estate, as the result of a March 15th settlement between the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and a group of Missouri home sellers who claimed that the sharing of listing agent’s commission with the buyer’s agent was somehow a violation of anti-price fixing laws and just plain “unfair.”
Although I, along with most Realtors (and, in fact, NAR), disagreed, the parties agreed to a settlement in which MLSs may no longer display how much a buyer’s agent will earn if he brings a buyer to the table.
Real Estate, we’re not so worried.
Below is a picture of the yard sign that in front of the solar-powered listing featured at the bottom of the page. Do you notice anything new about it? Yes, it has a sign rider telling both buyers and their agents that the seller will pay a 2.5% commission to an agent who represents the buyer of this home.
The brochure in the brochure box has that same information. You could say that “nothing has really changed,” and you’d be almost right. What has changed is that we are not “splitting” our listing commission with the buyer’s agent. Ra-
ther, the seller has agreed (at my suggestion) to incentivize agents to bring their buyer, knowing that their client will not have to pay him, because the seller will.
The sellers who sued to end the practice of commission splitting will finally recognize that compensating the agent who represents their buyer is a practical way to sell a home. They had hoped that buyers would now have to pay for their own professional representation, but if, as I expect, the vast majority of home sellers agree to compete with each other for the buyer’s business, which home do you think the buyer will offer to buy?
That’s how I see these coming weeks
and months shaking out. Some sellers will say, “Hey, I don’t have to offer compensation,” and a few may succeed with that strategy. But one thing is for sure: the universe of potential buyers will be smaller, because a significant percentage of buyers can’t afford to pay for representation on top of the other fees I listed in last week’s column. I do expect that many buyers will feel they should only deal with listing agents directly, but when they see our sign rider, they may do the right thing for themselves, which is to have a professional working in their best interest instead of the seller’s. Stay tuned!
MLS Now Has Fields for Audio & Video Recording
That change took place at midnight last Thursday and many real estate professionals are concerned about how it will affect them personally. At Golden
Do You Know or Care Where Your Realtor Stands Politically?
Real estate is not the only profession where the “rule” is never to talk politics or religion. I agree about religion, but in today’s divisive political climate, I feel differently about revealing my political leanings, which are liberal. As a seller, I would not be comfortable hiring an agent who was a Trump fan. Someone else may prefer hiring a fan of Trump.
Recently, a Denver agent referred a Golden seller to me. When I told him that his home would be advertised next to my weekly real estate column, he said, “I don’t read newspapers anymore because they’re all fake news.”
Okay, we’re not a fit — and that’s okay with me.
Archive of Past Columns Is Online
Over the past two decades, this column has appeared in local weeklies and the Denver Post, and during that time I’ve written about every conceivable topic related to real estate. You can find and search that archive online at www.JimSmithColumns.com
New: Solar-Powered Green Mountain Home
$795,000
The seller of this 3-bedroom/2½-bath home at 14038 W. Amherst Ave. provided this springtime picture of their crabapple tree in bloom. Not visible from the front is the seller-owned 5.98-kW solar array which reduces the Xcel monthly electric bill to under $10 year-round. The oversized garage has an extra 5'x18' workshop/storage area with natural light. The workbench, shop light and pegboards are all included. There’s another workshop area in the unfinished basement, plus a 10'x11' wood laminate dance floor! The cul-de-sac location makes this home a quiet place to enjoy life with friendly neighbors. The 8'x25' composite deck off the eat-in kitchen is half-covered, with stairs down to the backyard with its lush grass, garden beds and linden tree. The other half of the deck is shaded by the house itself in late afternoon. The 6'x8' front porch is also covered. Visit www.JeffcoSolarHomes.com to view a narrated video walk-through and drone video, plus magazine-quality photos and floor plans. The seller replaced the windows on the first floor and most of the second floor with high-end Marvin windows. The windows are energy efficient double-paned windows with aluminum clad wood frames. The frames are powder-coated white, requiring no routine maintenance. Come to the open house Saturday, 11-1, or call broker associate Kathy Jonke at 303-990-7428 to see it. Note: Seller offers 2.5% buyer broker compensation.
With surveillance systems becoming more and more common in American homes, buyers can never be sure that what they say to each other and their agent during a showing isn’t being monitored remotely by the seller.
Personally, I advise my buyers to assume that everything they say is being heard by the seller and to monitor their conversation accordingly. There are any number of things a buyer could say while
touring a home that would disadvantage them when it comes to negotiating a contract or inspection issues.
REcolorado, Denver’s MLS, now has fields for indicating whether there is audio and/or video recording inside and/or outside the listing, but buyers should not count on privacy if those fields are not checked. I recently sold a home where the fields weren’t checked but cameras (and Alexa) were definitely present.
Just Listed: 20-Acre Apple & Peach Orchard
Our former broker associate, Kim Taylor, is now an independent broker in Cedaredge and just listed this interesting agricultural property nearby. With 4.8 shares of surface creek water, the meticulously managed fruit is thriving again this year, and there is a leased rental house that was recently remodeled. The orchard contains blocks of apples and peaches and has been a successful producer for over 20 years. The property also has a 1500 sq. ft. cooler with loading dock, a tractor barn with electric, and two 30-amp electric and water hook ups for RVs. Located in the county, this agricultural property sits literally on the edge of Cedaredge city limits, only 1/2 mile from town center. Property taxes run less than $500/year. Come take a closer look! The Cedaredge area is a great location for the outdoor enthusiasts! Just 20 minutes away is the Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mesa in the country with over 300 lakes for fishing, lots of space for camping, hiking and biking, miles of groomed Nordic ski trails, Powderhorn Ski Resort, snowshoeing, and miles of snowmobiling — not to mention that the Gunnison River is only 15 minutes south, and the greater area is Colorado wine country, with an airport just 45 minutes away! Seller also has 10 more acres with blocks of apples, peaches and grapes that would make a great addition to this property. Learn more at www.OrchardCityHome.info, then call Kim at 303-304-6678 to arrange a visit.
$850,000
di erent types of enrichment to elicit those behaviors, and then we document and evaluate whether or not that enrichment was e ective.”
Formerly Denver Zoo, the organization rebranded this summer to re ect the nonpro t’s dedication to wildlife conservation and research, according to a press release. And enrichment practices help earn DZCA accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
ough animal enrichment practices have been used for decades, DZCA’s approach is unique, Genter said. ey use animal observation data and behavioral studies to plan activities for each kind of animal.
“In the last 30 years, we’ve made some really big strides in enrichment and more, that before we would just give an animal a ball and say ‘he’s enriched,’” Genter said. “Now we’re more deliberate with a goal in mind of what behaviors we want to see. We deliver
Visitors might see Hagrid the camel playing with a supersized in ated ball, or watch zoo workers lead animals into di erent sections of their habitats for a change of scenery and exposure to the smells of other animals.
For auditory engagement, the zoo plays soundtracks of other animal noises or songs. But they get creative with that too, like when the zoo brought in members of the Colorado Symphony to play music for the animals, Genter said.
When visitors see the entire pride of lions sleeping, they might conclude the animals are listless or unhappy. But it’s important to account for an animal’s natural behaviors when scheduling enrichment programs, Genter said.
“Lions sleep about 20 hours a day, so it’s not uncommon to come to the zoo
and see a lion sleeping,” Genter said. “ at’s actually a behavior we encourage, because it’s part of their natural history, it’s part of what they do in the wild.”
‘Did you see that?’
Klein was interested to see how the primates would react to a magic show. Would they react when Robinson made something disappear?
She was happy to see clear signs that the apes were processing the experience, whether they were pointing, blowing raspberries or playfully hitting the glass when they witnessed a magic trick. ese reactions helped Robinson pick up on which tricks the animals were more interested in, he said.
After performing a trick for a pair of companion orangutans, the female looked over to the male as if to say in shock, “did you see that?” Robinson recalled.
“It was just very cool to see the human in them, and also the animal in us,” Robinson added. “I’m like, oh, that’s just a pure animal reaction to be like ‘what!’”
At one point he made a banana appear out of thin air. e apes were unimpressed, he said.
Enrichment programs are choice based, Klein said, meaning no primate was forced to sit and watch the magic show. ey showed interest on their own accord.
One mother and young infant sat several feet back, with the protective mother watching out of the corner of her eye, Klein said. at was a comfortable way for them to participate without becoming unnerved by the new person and experience.
But animals at the zoo are encouraged to try new things to build their resilience, Genter said. If an animal is hesitant to participate in an enrichment activity, sta may ease them into it by placing the stimulus at a distance, or by playing new sounds quietly.
“We can’t always plan for all of the activity that happens in and around the zoo,” Genter said. “We try to acclimate our animals as best as possible.” is kind of activity can be benecial for pets at home, Genter added. New toys or activities can be helpful in counteracting the mental and physical impact of leaving pets alone while on vacation or at work.
Animals that are acting out, for example by clawing or chewing furniture, might be showing signs that they need more stimulation and care, she said.
“I think I have one of the best jobs at the zoo, I mean, who else gets paid to buy thousands of dollars of toys every day?” Genter said. “I’m very fortunate this is my job and that I get to work in this area, but what’s important to know is that it is critical for every animal’s care.”
SCAN NOW
VIEW JOBS
A capuchin monkey participates in an enrichment activity at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DENVER ZOO CONSERVATION ALLIANCE
A young orangutan participates in an enrichment activity at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.
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A cape bu alo participates in an enrichment activity at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.
If passed, the initiative would ban recreational trophy hunting and commercial fur trapping of wild cats. Speci cally, voters will be asked to declare that “any trophy hunting of mountain lions, bobcats or lynx is inhumane, serves no socially acceptable or ecologically bene cial purpose, and fails to further public safety,,” according to proponents.
Cats Aren’t Trophies, the group pushing the ban, said the proposed law only targets trophy shooting and wildlife trapping. It allows for the killing of any animal that is a danger to people, pets or farm and ranch animals.
Volunteers across the state started gathering the signatures for a petition to get the initiative on the ballot in March, said Samantha Miller, Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign manager. e group submitted 147,529 valid signatures, more than the 124,238 needed for a place on the ballot, she said.
In late July, the state certi ed the ballot question, she said. Most people who were approached for a signature had no idea Colorado allowed hunters to usually pay $8,000 to use packs of eight hunting dogs to tree and then run down a mountain lion so a hunter could shoot it and take the animal’s head for decoration and fur for a coat, Miller said. In some cases, bobcats are caught in leg traps where they can remain for several days before a trapper comes onto them, and either shoots them or chokes them to death, Miller said.
“Colorado voters now have a chance to halt this inhumane and needless killing of mountain lions and bobcats for their heads and
beautiful fur coats,” she said.
Trophy hunters often hire professional guides who use pack dogs for a “guaranteed kill,” Craig said. ey shoot between 500 and 600 mountain lions during a four-month season in Colorado. Of the 501 mountain lions killed for trophies and recreation last season alone, nearly half - 47% - were female and not one was reportedly in con ict with humans, Cats Aren’t Trophies o cials said.
Females often leave their kittens in a den for several days to nd food. When they are killed by trophy hunters, the kittens are often left to die because no one is there to care for them, Craig said.
“Trophy hunters go into the wilderness and shoot lions for fun yet want to claim they are targeting ‘problem’ lions. at is ction,” Craig said. “ at’s like saying they are going to solve crime by shooting into a crowd.”
Big game hunters, veterinarians and wildlife biologists also spoke at the Sanctuary last week, decrying trophy hunting as cruel and unnecessary.
“As a wildlife biologist, I can tell you that the science is clear that sport hunting of mountain lions is an ine ective means of mitigating human-lion con ict,” said Mickey Pardo, who specializes in animal behavior and applied wildlife ecology, in a news release.
“If anything, sport hunting only makes con ict worse by disproportionately removing older males and creating a vacuum that is lled by younger, inexperienced males who are more prone to con ict with humans and domesticated animals,” Pardo said.
Foes favor science-based management
Opponents of Prop 91 say that mountain lion hunting is important
and that the hunting ban is bad for science-based wildlife management in Colorado, Bryan Jones of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, recently told the Colorado Sun.
“We will certainly talk about ballotbox wildlife initiatives and how they can be a negative for wildlife management in Colorado,” Jones told the Sun. He said he expects the opposition campaign will include the challenges that followed the introduction of wolves to the Western Slope this year.
Craig said the opposition to the measure is led by an “extremist group of hunters.”
Trophy hunters have decimated
the lion population in Africa which has led antelopes and other hooved mammals the lions traditionally feed on, to explode in population.
“It’s led to an unhealthy environment with a huge population of animals starving to death,” he said.
Eying Craig and the group of reporters last week were African lions Cheddar and Tsylia, a brother and sister, who came to the Sanctuary from a zoo in war-torn Ukraine. Cheddar padded up and down the wide fence and kept an eye on the interlopers.
“He seems pretty content,” Craig said of Cheddar. “At least here he is safe.”
A ranger found a mountain lion in a cottonwood tree in Garden of the Gods about 6 a.m. April 29, 2023. The adult mountain lion stayed in the tree all day, feet from unsuspecting hikers on Ute Trail and climbers in the Snake Pits, a popular bouldering section of the park, likely after feasting on a deer.
Angel Eyes is able to provide its bereavement counseling and support at no cost for families in need through grants, gracious donations and sponsorships earned during its various annual events.
“A lot of families can’t pay for the counseling, so that’s where we come in,” said Laura Crowley, executive director of Angel Eyes. “And it doesn’t have to be low-income families that use our services.”
Crowley explained that Angel Eyes is there when individuals and families are desperate for counseling and obstacles such as nances and low availability a ect booking therapy. e sta is great at adjusting schedules in order to be there for people when it is needed the most.
Angel Eyes is sta ed with a trained social worker and counselor equipped to assist in the path of recovery for grieving families who have su ered the trauma of a devastating loss. Yet, professional guidance is not the only quali cation for support, some sta members, like Crowley, know rsthand what it is like to lose a child. Crowley lost her daughter, Terrah, to SIDS in 1994 and was contacted by then e Colorado SIDS Program immediately. She has been involved with the organization ever since, which is now Angel Eyes.
“I call it a grief journey because you never really reach the end,” Crowley said about her experience with tragedy. “I still cannot say my daughter’s name. I’ve tried in the past, and I can’t. I just get choked up and I can’t say it.”
Angel Eyes aims to bring awareness to unexpected child deaths with annual events such as its Angel Walk, Suds for SIDS, Claws For A Cause and On e Wings of Angels motorcycle poker run. ough through a tragic connotation, these occasions connect individuals and families in need and, with the help of the many volunteers who donate their time and energy, promote the notion that grief can be combatted. Partnering with businesses such as Grammie’s Little Teapot strengthens this connection and community.
that its services will be expanding out of state, opening a second support center in Ohio.
Everyone handles grief in a different way, but when tragedy is shared, it can connect people when in desperate need, and no one has to do it alone.
Connecting communities
“I wanted to get the community involved,” Crowley said. “We hope that they’re going to continue to support.”
Angel Eyes recently announced
Finding these connections with the public is important to Beltezore and Shengle - it’s therapeutic in a sense. ough Grammie’s Little Teapot is a business and needs to operate as such, Beltezore explained that it is vital to remain
“grounded to the community roots and to help other people and keep bringing us back to why we started.”
She simply asked, “When people are grieving, how can you help somebody?”
ough Beltezore admits she was originally not a tea enthusiast, she is transparent with her a cionado customer base that enters the trailer to explore.
“ is truly was about our baby grandson being short and stout,” Beltezore said. “I tell people if they come in and they’re really knowledgeable … I take any suggestions and ideas of teas that we should
carry and di erent herbs that help with things.”
Help comes in many forms, from advice about comforting tea to comfortable support for grief. Help serves as a stable foundation for any loyal community.
Grammie’s Little Teapot is spreading their story and support throughout Colorado. ey can be found frequenting the Louisville, Orchard and Evergreen Farmer’s Market during the season.
Visit grammieslitteteapot.com or follow them on Instagram @grammies_little_teapot to nd out where they will be next.
Grammies Little Teapot display at Brighton’s Knot Forgotten.
PHOTO BY CARL KNAUF
Denver Film recognizes local Black queer creatives at CinemaQ Film Festival
BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Denver Film’s CinemaQ Film Festival, which took place Aug. 8-11 this year, celebrated 16 years at the Sie Film Center in Denver. CinemaQ focuses on narratives by, for and about the LGBTQ+ community.
Keith Garcia, the festival’s founder and the Sie FilmCenter’s artistic director, said the 16th anniversary was a good time to start a new section of the festival.
“We are celebrating, essentially, the creation of a new track that we have here at CinemaQ called BLQ,” Garcia said. “We are really taking the time with our partners at Black Pride Colorado and Youth Seen to amplify Black queer voices, something that’s very much needed in the world today.”
e BLQ track kicked o on day three of CinemaQ with the lms “I’m Your Venus” and “Any Other Way: e Jackie Shane Story.” Between the two lms, a panel titled BLQ Disruptors was held. e panel featured two Colorado creatives, Michael Sullivan and Assétou Xango, and the executive producer of “I’m Your Venus,” Jonovia Chase. Chase also cofounded House Lives Matter, an initiative that organizes and mobilizes to support the “house” and “ballroom” community
Sullivan, a Wheat Ridge resident, is a fashion designer, tailor, artist and co-founder of HAUS Clothing. Xango is a poet, artist and founder of Dark Goddess Collective. ey were the poet laureate of Aurora from 2017 to 2019. Both Xango and Sullivan spoke about the importance of creating spaces for Black and Brown creatives in Colorado.
BLQ would provide a space to explore topics vital to the Black queer community through lm. According to Xango, such a space is critical today.
Sullivan said creating the BLQ Disruptors panel was his way of making such a space.
“I really just wanted this space (the panel and BLQ track) for all of us to share those experiences, but also share it with everyone who’s coming,” Sullivan explained. He added that sharing would bring everyone together. “Especially as Black people, and Black being Black and queer, we only move forward together. ere’s no other way. So, that was the reason why I started the panel.”
Xango described how the Dark Goddess Collective continues that work.
“So I think the spaces where we can dance, the spaces where we can play, are super necessary,” Xango said. “But there also needs to be spaces where we can have these types of conversations and dig in and have con ict and know how to move through that con ict and be committed to the same vision. at is what’s required.”
Creating safe spaces
Xango said they practice this in their poetry performances and through the works of their organization Dark Goddess Collective.
“So Dark Goddess Collective is a space speci cally for Black femme creatives, and this is a space that I wanted to create,” Xango explained. ey talked about a partnership with Melanin Mountain Project, founded by Chloe Nicole Bowman in Crested Butte.
“(Bowman) really wanted to bring melanin to the mountains, and so we collaborate with them every Juneteenth to do a couple of shows,” Xango said.
Juneteenth is celebrated annually to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States.
Sullivan explained that HAUS stands for Honoring Art, Unifying Souls.
According to Sullivan, HAUS was the rst Black queer-owned design house in Colorado and the U.S. He and his co-founders created HAUS because they wanted a space and could not nd it for people like himself. Sullivan said that HAUS has become more than just fashion.
“HAUS has been a reclamation of not only Blackness, but queerness, as de ned by myself and the team,” Sullivan explained. “My entire team is a mixture of Black, queer and nonqueer creativeness. It’s Black and Brown, and we also have those who are not people of color, but they see the vision. ey want to be part
And what that inherently means is that we’re allowed to share our experiences uncensored.”
Xango said guests can get and should receive the sharing without confrontation.
Garcia said BLQ is now a permanent track within CinemaQ and Denver Film.
Sullivan will take the HAUS team from Wheat Ridge and the Denver area to New York Fashion Week in September. For more information on his work, go to hausclothing. org.Find more information on BLQ, CinemaQ and Denver Film at denver lm.org.
of it.”
Colorado is a predominantly White space, and those communities, according to both Xango and Sullivan, can approach these new Black and Brown queer creative spaces.
Xango said the rst step is to shift to a “student” mindset before entering spaces like the BLQ events at CinemaQ.
“Be a student. Really go in with a listening ear, because it matters who enters those spaces,” Xango said.
According to Xango, the Black and Brown creatives have cultivated the space to be safe, and guests, including allies, must respect that safety component.
“I think what we need is to maintain the integrity of who’s walking into that space and with what intention,” Xango explained. “So if the intention is, ‘oh, I want to be cool’ and ‘I want to go see where all the Black folks hang out.’ With that intention, I say, ‘no, thank you.’ If the intention is to really come to understand and to see how you can be a part of the movement, then absolutely, come on in.”
Xango added that guests to the Black and Brown queer creative spaces also need to be prepared for an uncomfortable experience.
“You have to come in being willing to just listen and to maybe be uncomfortable,” Xango said. “Because, again, these are spaces that we’re creating that are safe spaces.
LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Independent. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone. Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline
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The BLQ Disruptors panel at Cinema Q.
CinemaQ focuses on narratives by, for and about the LGBTQ+ community.
PHOTO BY ROY BARNETT JR.
Swim Across America makes 7th annual splash near Littleton
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ree years removed from his spinal cord cancer diagnosis, Garrett Rymer’s prognosis is looking good; so good he added another mile to his return to this year’s Swim Across America event at the Chat eld Reservoir near Littleton.
e Aug. 17 event marked the seventh annual open water swim for the nonpro t, which raises cancer research funds for Children’s Hospital Colorado. Many of the participating swimmers are cancer survivors or swimming for a loved one impacted by cancer.
It brought survivors together in a fun, everyday way, which is important because cancer can be terribly isolating, Rymer said.
“Pretty quickly, you start to see a lot of your peers, even your friends, start to distance themselves from you,” Rymer said. “Not because they are upset with you or dislike you in any way, they’re just not really sure how to respond to that … the amount of healing that really takes place when you get two survivors in the same room, even if they never say a word about cancer, is just unparalleled. It’s really encouraging to see cancer survivors getting into this event and using their stories for Swim Across America.”
Nonprofit organization Swim Across America held its 7th Annual Denver Open Water Swim on Aug. 17 at Chatfield Reservoir near Littleton. Participants will swim to raise money for cancer research.
Celebrating cancer survivors with fundraising, healing at Chatfield Reservoir SEE SPLASH, P19
Rymer, age 17 from Cherry Creek, learned about his cancer in 2021 after a bicycle crash that broke his right arm. After having surgery to remove roughly half of a tumor from his spinal cord in 2022, plus a clinical trial for a chemotherapy treatment that involved a new,
twice-daily pill, the tumor remains at bay. It’s even shrunk a bit.
His arm remained weak long after the break healed. At last year’s Swim Across America event, Rymer swam the one-mile option but said his arm was probably in the “valley of lowest function” at that time.
“Now, I have gained a lot of function in my right arm, speci cally in my elbow,” Rymer said. “I used to really not even be able to get that exed bicep movement at all. If I could, it was very weak and I couldn’t do it with any weight.”
But because of nerve graft procedures done by the Mayo Clinic in 2023, the movement has come back strong. He can lift around ve pounds with his right arm, which he describes as “really incredible.” It helps with a breaststroke, which he’s found really e ective. is year, he tackled the two-mile swim at the event with his father and girlfriend, who is also a pediatric cancer survivor.
Sarah omas also joined the festivities this year. A well-known ultra-marathon swimmer and world record holder, omas has conquered the English Channel, Lake Champlain, the North Channel, Lake Tahoe and Lake Mead. She lives near Denver and is a breast cancer survivor. She’s been an ambassador for Swim Across America since the organization’s rst Denver-area event in 2018.
At 41, omas is the rst person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel, with a time of 54 hours and 10 minutes. Recently, she became the rst person in history to complete a two-way crossing of the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland in 21 hours and 46 minutes.
In 2023, omas also became the rst person to successfully swim the entire length of Lake Mead (47.5 miles). She raised $10,000 for cancer research through that event.
PHOTO BY SARA GARCIA
As I re ect on the achievements of our Olympic athletes, past and present, I am overwhelmed with pride and admiration. Becoming an Olympian is one of the most challenging and rewarding paths one can take. It demands physical prowess and an immense amount of courage, commitment, and dedication. Our athletes have demonstrated these qualities in abundance, and their accomplishments on the world stage are a testament to their hard work and perseverance.
WINNING
e road to the Olympics is paved with long hours of training, the relentless grind, and the inevitable spilling of blood, sweat, and tears. Each athlete’s journey is unique, yet they share a common thread of sacri ce and determination. ey wake up before dawn, often pushing their bodies to the limit, driven by a dream few can truly understand. e courage to pursue this dream is astounding, knowing that the path is fraught with obstacles and that the margin for error is razor-thin. However, it is not just the physical challenges that make the journey remarkable. e mental fortitude required to maintain focus, stay motivated, and overcome setbacks is equally impressive. Our athletes have faced numerous trials, from
TVOICES
A tribute to our Olympic heroes
injuries and disappointments to the pressure of global competition. Yet, they persevere, driven by an unyielding desire to excel and represent their country with honor.
e world witnesses something extraordinary when these athletesnally step onto the Olympic stage. e grace, speed, strength, agility, accuracy, beauty, and endurance they display captivate our attention like nothing else.
Watching them perform is a spectacle of human achievement and a celebration of the human spirit. eir performances inspire us, reminding us of the limitless potential within each of us.
I am incredibly proud of every athlete representing our country at the Olympics. Whether they have brought home medals or not, their e orts and achievements are nothing short of magni cent. e work ethic, e ort, and grittiness they exhibit, their natural gifts, and the skills they have honed over years of training are truly awe-inspiring.
Consider the swimmer who spends countless hours in the pool, perfecting each stroke, or the gym-
nast who pushes the boundaries of what the human body can do with grace and precision. ink of the runner who trains tirelessly to shave fractions of a second o their time, or the weightlifter who combines raw power with impeccable technique. Each of these athletes embodies the essence of what it means to strive for excellence.
Our Olympic athletes are more than competitors; they are ambassadors of hope and determination. ey remind us that we can achieve greatness with hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of our dreams. ey show us that setbacks are merely setups for comebacks and that true success is measured not just by medals but by the journey and the e ort invested along the way.
eir achievements extend beyond the con nes of the sports arena. ey inspire future generations to dream big, to push their limits, and to believe in themselves. Young athletes look up to these Olympians, seeing in them the possibility of turning their own dreams into reality. is ripple e ect of inspiration is perhaps one of the greatest legacies our Olympians leave behind.
As I salute our Olympic athletes, I also recognize the support systems that have helped them along the way. Coaches, families, friends,
and communities play a crucial role in an athlete’s journey, providing the encouragement and support needed to reach the pinnacle of their sport. eir contributions are invaluable and deserve recognition alongside the athletes themselves.
Again, I am profoundly proud of our Olympic athletes, both past and present. eir courage, commitment, dedication, and resilience are qualities that we can all aspire to emulate. ey have given us moments of joy, pride, and inspiration; we are forever grateful for that. Whether they have stood on the podium or not, they have all achieved something extraordinary by competing at the highest level. To each and every one of them, I say: well done, and I salute you all. Your legacy is one of excellence; you have made your country proud.
I would love to hear your praise for our athletes at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can all come together to stand with our athletes who honorably represent us, it really will be a better than good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
Wildlife Olympics: There’s no contest!
he Olympic Games present a thrilling glimpse into the world of extremes.
Athletes have varying heights, musculatures, skin colors and genders. At any Olympic event, there may be many languages spoken and a variety of cultural norms observed. Despite these seemingly wide disparities, only one species is present: homo sapiens.
In the world of wildlife, such a test of superiority would be a much more intriguing albeit complex event. How does one compare the winged vs the scaled, the furry vs the shelled, the hoofed vs the pawed? Perhaps judging the Wildlife Olympics is less about choosing which creature should earn the highest honor of gold, silver or bronze but rather a recognition of the ways in which our non-human animal cousins have blossomed into spectacular and unique adaptations and skills which outshine our own. Yet, there are some clear gold medal winners. You may be surprised by who has earned the respect and praise of scientists who are the true
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INSIDE THE OUTDOORS
judges of the Wildlife Olympics. What would be the measure of an Olympic category for eyesight? e eye of a mantis shrimp, a crustacean the size of your pinkie nger, has 16 photoreceptors compared to a paltry 3 photoreceptors for humans. Researchers believe that the quantity of photoreceptors of the mantis shrimp’s eyes may allow visual information to be preprocessed by the eyes instead of the brain. Scientists have already awarded the mantis shrimp the gold medal for the most complex eyes of any species in the animal kingdom. e mantis shrimp is lauded for a second characteristic. Appendages which are folder under the animal’s carapace (giving the shrimp an appearance similar to the mantis insect) can smash prey with the power of a .22 caliber bullet. To compete
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with the shrimp, a human would have to punch through steel (and walk away with an intact hand).
Elephants may be the gold medalist, but the silver goes to our neighbor, the black bear. eir sensitive noses can follow a scent for miles. Bears can smell your burger on the grill from the next town over.
Bears are about to enter “hyperphagia” which means packing on 20,000 calories per day. e usually shy creatures become bold during this time. Keeping trash, bird feeders and other attractants out of sight and securely locked is imperative.
In Colorado, bears are under a “two-strike” policy-the rst infringement will earn a bear an ear tag and relocation. A tagged bear breaking into a home may be killed by wildlife o cers due to the risk to human safety. A tragedy that is completely avoidable, killing of habituated bears is the worst outcome for the o cers, homeowners, and bears.
If wildlife put their heads together (the ones that have heads),
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they might award the Gold to the humble tardigrade, the most magni cent animal you didn’t know exists. Also called water bears, the tiny creature, 0.059 inches, survives conditions that make the rest of us whine (or die).
Exposure to extreme temperatures, radiation, starvation, dehydration, and astoundingly high and low pressures does not stop this diminutive micro-fauna in its quest to outcompete every other species. Related to nematodes, tardigrades can suspend their metabolism and live without food and water for more than 30 years. e animals can later rehydrate and continue with the business of living.
Bonus — at least 17 species of tardigrades live in Colorado! Found in lichen and moss, these animals can be seen under a microscope! You could have little moss pigs living right outside your door.
Congratulations to our medalists and a huge round of respect and awe for the countless and priceless beings whose superpowers have yet to be discovered.
• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.
Christie Greene
CORRECTION
Last week’s newspaper misidenti ed the name of Alameda Avenue in the story about the city’s e orts to curb speeding.
‘Della Doucet’ opens at Vintage Theatre in Aurora Aug. 23
Washington Park playwright’s romantic comedy launches season
“Della Doucet” by Kirsten Dahl, winner of the 2023 Vintage New Play Festival, opens at the Vintage eatre in Aurora Aug. 23 as the rst play of the company’s 2024-2025 season.
“Della Doucet” follows Louisiana-born Della as she arrives in the gritty New York of 1981. On the run from her marriage to an o cer on a Southern military base, the 39-year-old wife and mother embraces punk rock, the East village art scene and romance without commitment.
“When I moved to New York City after college, I was astounded by the vivid, eccentric and often very funny people I met,” Dahl said. “New York itself is like a play.”
Dahl’s name will be familiar to readers of the Washington Park Pro le for her coverage of a range of topics, including “sea monsters” lurking in the lakes of Washington Park, the harmonicists of the Mile High Harmonica Club and an “eat local” story about where the Denver Zoo’s gorillas get their favorite snack, hibiscus owers.
“Della Doucet” tells the story of a woman who needs to start over,” said Director Paul Jaquith in a press statement. “ is is a piece about nding the strength within yourself to begin again and follow your passion after tragedy. What empowering journey would be devoid of a little romance and comedy along the way?”
“Della Doucet” runs from Aug. 23 through Sept. 22. Tickets range from $20 to $37 with group rates available. Call 303856-7830 or visit vintagetheatre.org for more information.
Osteoporosis, what is it? Do I have it? What do I need to change?
Take back the false notion that you can’t do anything to reduce or prevent the e ects of osteoporosis. ere is no cure for osteoporosis, which is why it is important to take preventive measures to stay as healthy as possible now and every day.
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. is is due to the body producing too little bone, losing too much, or both. Due to this, there is an increased risk of breaking bones from simple things such as a minor fall – or even sneezing or slight bumps, according to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.
It’s always good to check with your family. Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk. Even if this condition doesn’t exist in your family, you could still be at risk as you get older. is is something women need to especially be aware of as they age and should include cal-
Living an ‘osteo’ lifestyle
WOMEN’S WELLNESS
Dr. Terry Dunn
cium in their diet and take a supplemental vitamin D, no matter your age, to ensure good bone health. Here are four things you can do to live an “osteo” healthy lifestyle that may reduce the e ects of osteoporosis as you age.
• Physical activity. Weight bearing exercises, brisk walking, jogging and any activity that promotes good posture is good for your bones. is active lifestyle can potentially reduce the rate of bone loss by conserving bone tissue and lowering the risk of fracture.
• Avoid smoking and drinking. Both alcohol and smoking can decrease bone density and increase fracture risk among contributing to other health risk factors.
• Reduce fall hazards. Incorporate protective measures in your home to reduce fall-related injuries by removing loose rugs, tripping hazards
like cords and adding support rails, grab on bars, or by adding more lighting so it’s easy to see potential trip hazards.
• Good nutrition. Incorporate foods and ingredients that can help ght the onset of osteoporosis. Foods that are calcium friendly include low-fat dairy products, broccoli, salmon, sardines, bread, orange juice and cereals. Foods to help boost vitamin D include fatty sh, egg yolks, liver and mushrooms.
While these tips can help make a di erence, they aren’t a cure-all for osteoporosis. Women need to be aware of warning signs pointing
to potential issues with bone structure.
Some common symptoms and signs of osteoporosis include back pain caused by a broken or collapsed bone in the spine, loss of height, a stooped posture, or a bone that breaks more easily than expected. If you have any of these symptoms, we recommend a visit with your doctor for an assessment.
Dr. Terry Dunn is the owner of Foothills Urogynecology, a Denver-based practice specializing in women’s health. To learn more, visit www.urogyns.com.
Washington Park playwright Kirsten Dahl’s latest play, “Della Doucet,” opens at the Vintage Theatre Aug. 23.
THE POWER OF MUSIC
Arvada nonprofit aims to create bridges through collaboration, exploration and fun for kids in the metro area
BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Studies on music’s bene ts repeatedly show its positive impact to mental and physical health. Research also shows it can build bridges.
Children who participate in group music activities exhibit more cooperation than kids who don’t, according to the journal “Evolution and Human Behavior.” Furthermore, researchers found children who regularly play music, sing and dance together can more easily empathize with others.
at’s something today’s world needs more of, believes ornton resident Dustin Olde, and that he hopes his music school can foster. A lifelong musician, Olde runs Colorado AMP (After-school Music Program), a low-cost, nonpro t kids’ music school in Arvada. e three-year-old business draws students from the heart of Denver and throughout the suburbs.
“Kids can take music lessons online anytime,” he said. “ e whole point is we want them in-person, working together. We’re trying to get people to get along. at’s where we as a society are struggling. How can we all get along and understand each other? e music is just the gateway, the language by which they communicate.”
His students’ words suggest Olde is having an impact.
“When I thought of music before, I really thought more about, this note is A or B,” said Westminster’s Cullan Wright, 13, who’d played French horn in his school band before enrolling at Colorado AMP. “Now I understand it’s more about chords, how di erent things meld together.
“Before when I was playing, I was only thinking about my part,” he continued. “I would use someone else as a cue to come in. But for the most part, I wasn’t listening to other kids.”
Olde also discovered the power of music while playing with his peers. As a teen at Littleton High School, he experienced bene ts that went far beyond music’s immediate psychological rewards.
“At 15, I formed a band with some friends; that was a huge piece of what got me through high school,” Olde said. “ ose were my best friends, and the band was a fundamental part of my selfesteem. It gave me the con dence I needed to get through high school.”
ose bonds went so deep that 35 years later, Olde is still playing with one of his high school bandmates in the group Trouble Bound. e band recently played at Evergreen’s Aug. 3 Mountain Music Fest.
Olde was a college music major and early in his
career, worked with at-risk kids as an AmeriCorps teacher. at experience sparked his interest in a music school open to children from families of all income levels.
“We were teaching anger and con ict management skills to kids,” said Olde, a father of two. “I learned that the time when kids get in the most trouble is between when school ends and when Mom and Dad get home from work. at’s the time I want kids to be doing something positive.”
Colorado AMP is designed for children ages 10 to 15 who love music. Skill level or family income is not a factor. e school o ers sliding scale fees and full scholarships. Drawing kids from di erent backgrounds is key to ful lling Olde’s mission.
“My vision has always been that we’d have a kid from Sterling who likes country and one from Aurora who likes hip hop,” he said. “In real life, the two would never meet. But here, they hear one another’s music and play together. You start to understand somebody else’s perspective.
“It’s not hugely di erent from School of Rock,” he continued. “But our goal is to get to those kids who can’t a ord School of Rock.”
While Colorado AMP was intended to be pri-
marily an after-school program and o ers individual lessons, specialty workshops and after-school programs, its summer music camps generate the highest turnout.
During the camps, kids practice in small groups for two weeks and then do a live performance. Students can choose to play guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboards or sing. Olde typically contracts with teachers to instruct the summer programs. Westminster parent Kerstin Wright’s two sons have gone to Colorado AMP’s summer camp for two years running.
“I was a little skeptical when we went the rst time that by the end of two weeks we’d be attending a concert with them playing these instruments,” she said. “My kids had never had any experience with playing a bass guitar, an electric guitar or drum set. I was astonished. It was such a huge fun surprise to see them up on stage that rst time.”
Not only did her sons learn to play the instruments, they created a band name and logo, and produced a promotional video.
Broomfield’s Davis Maurney, 11, focuses during an end-of-camp performance at Colorado AMP. PHOTO BY LINDA MAURNEY
MUSIC
“ ey just had some very cool and di erent experiences they’d never had anywhere else,” Wright said. “ ey met some new kids, and some really awesome adults who have a passion for music and kids. at was also a win.”
Cullan Wright said it’s changed the way he listens to music.
“Whenever I’m listening to a song now, I can hear the piano part or the bass part,” he said. “I really do appreciate how much time they have to put into everything.”
Eleven-year-old Cooper Wright also saw his musical world expand after the summer camps.
“It’s opened up some more music genres,” he said. “(Before) it was kinda like whatever is on for me. I knew about bands like Nirvana and Green Day. But once we played a Nirvana song, I really got into it. Now I think I listen for more genres than just whatever.”
Cooper played both drums and guitar during his two Colorado AMP summer camps.
“ ey’re really good at simplifying things to make it kid-friendly,” he said. “I like the other kids there, and just getting to play and learn new instruments is pretty fun.”
It’s been fun for their mother, too, who said she now hears them talking in the car in great detail about a song playing on the stereo.
“So much of what kids do nowadays is screenbased; I feel like they don’t get a lot of opportunity to get creative,” she said. “For me, it’s important to create those opportunities that are meaningful and interesting to them.”
Broom eld’s Linda Maurney and her son and daughter had a similar experience. Son Davis, 11, has done the summer music camp for three years. Davis already owned a guitar but before Colorado AMP, he said he barely touched it.
“Now I’ve learned new things and it’s more fun to play guitar,” he said. “It really helped me practice.” Davis said his favorite moment at each camp is the nal performance.
“It’s fun to play on a stage,” he said. “You come together as a band, and it’s fun to see how you sound.”
Linda Maurney said she’s watched her children’s musical con dence grow with each camp experience.
“My son’s talking about starting his own band,” she said. “He brought two of his friends to camp, and now they do it together. ey’re engaged with other kids, for a common purpose. ey’re listening to and reading music, trying to gure it out. You can almost see that their brains are more activated.”
So far this summer, about 60 students have participated in Colorado AMP’s summer camps. While this basic formula’s been a winner, Olde is experimenting with alternative ideas, too. Earlier this year, the school hosted a Taylor Swift workshop, a four-Saturday program in which students learned and performed three Swift hits.
As the program has evolved, so too have its participants.
“ is year I had a student who was missing a hand,” Olde said. “In that same camp, I had a kid with a speech disability. We’ve had kids with autism. …I think a lot of kids on the spectrum gravitate toward music. ey can nd their voice through it. So that’s been cool.”
For Olde, the best moment of any program comes at the end — when students take everything they’ve learned and showcase it to friends and family. “ at last day of camp when they do their performance is my favorite,” he said. “We try to have as polished a performance as we can. at sometimes means we as teachers are in there playing with them. We want them to think, ‘Whoa, this sounds really good.’ ey feel so proud of themselves. Everything’s worth it for that day.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLORADO AMP
Address: 8141 N I-70 Frontage Road, Unit 7B, Arvada, CO 80002.
Website: https://coloradoamp.org/
Phone: 303-862-6294
You can apply for camps and classes or make a donation online.
Cooper Wright and Davis Maurney show o their Colorado AMP IDs during a recent summer camp. COURTESY PHOTO
Students rehearse at Colorado AMP during a summer music camp. They include Julian Luby from Wheatridge on piano, Anya Beneski (wearing glasses) from Wheat Ridge on vocals, Molly Roman from Lakewood on vocals, Isaac Press from Lakewood on bass, and Khalil Foster from Arvada on guitar.
PHOTO BY JANE REUTER
Colorado AMP founder Dustin Olde is a member of Trouble Bound, which played at Evergreen’s recent Mountain Music Fest. PHOTO BY 20 DEGREES MEDIA
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Crossland Construction Company is hiring Section 3 workers on a project in northeast Park Hill Denver. Section 3 workers are defined as any worker who currently, or when hired within the last 5 years, is a low or very low-income resident; or employed by a Section 3 business concern; or a YouthBuild participant. Interested candidates contact
Wanted
Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398
Transportation
Boats and Water Sports
Inflatable boat, 10x4ft, 3 air chambers, DC pump. 303 696 8603.
Crossland Construction Company at (303)861-0228. Mention Section 3 when calling.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of RICHARD L GIBNEY, a/k/a RICHARD LEE GIBNEY, a/k/a RICHARD GIBNEY, a/k/a DR. RICHARD L GIBNEY, a/k/a DR. RICHARD LEE GIBNEY, a/k/a DR. RICHARD GIBNEY Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30759
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 24, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Edith Hill Gibney, Personal Representative
3401 E. Floyd Drive, Denver CO, 80210
Legal Notice No. DHD 3239
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Lloyd Leonard Rich, a/k/a Lloyd L. Rich, a/k/a Lloyd Rich, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30754
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 123, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
The Estate of Lloyd L. Rich
Carol Ann Waugh, Personal Representative
2030 East 11th Avenue, Apt 1208 Denver, CO 80206
Legal Notice No. DHD 3240
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Max Wayne Schroer, a/k/a Max W. Schroer, a/k/a Max Schroer, Deceased
Case Number: 2024PR30749
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Donna Schroer,
Personal Representative c/o Mollie B. Hawes, Miller and Steiert, P.C.
1901 W. Littleton Blvd. Littleton, CO 80120
Legal Notice No. DHD 3238
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Jackie Wayne Zobrist, a/k/a Jackie W. Zobrist, a/k/a Jackie Zobrist, a/k/a Jack Wayne Zobrist, a/k/a Jack W. Zobrist, a/k/a Jack Zobrist, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030878
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Colorado Estate Planning Law Center
Personal Representative 6870 W. 52nd Avenue, Suite 103 Arvada, Colorado 80002
Legal Notice No. DHD 3247
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Howard Eugene Watson, aka Howard E Watson, aka Howard Watson, Deceased Case Number: 24PR392
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 16, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kent Watson, Personal Representative
17501 Hill Way, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Legal Notice No. DHD 3236
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Christina L. Kerscher, a/k/a Christina Longfellow Kerscher, J.Christina Kerscher, and Christina Kerscher, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30891
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to:
Denver Probate Court City and County of Denver, Colorado 1437 Bannock Street, #230 Denver, CO 80202
on or before December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
David K. Kerscher
Personal Representative c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC
4500 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246
Legal Notice No. DHD 3250
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Thomas Brown Welborn, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030830
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dated August 13, 2024
/s/ Cory M. Curtis Cory M. Curtis, #40549 Attorney to the Personal Representative
CURTIS LAW FIRM, LLC 10333 E Dry Creek Rd, Suite 210 Englewood, CO 80112
720-263-4600
Legal Notice No. DHD 3245
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Robert A. Weinberger, a/k/a Robert Alan Weinberger, a/k/a Robert Weinberger, a/k/a Rob Weinberger, a/k/a Bob Weinberger, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30868
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Margaux Star Weinberger
Personal Representative 5462 N. La Casita Drive Tucson, AZ 85718
Legal Notice No. DHD 3230
First Publication: August 8, 2024 Last Publication: August 22, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Charles Angelucci, a/k/a Chuck Angelucci, Deceased Case Number 2024PR30882
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the 0enver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before September 21, 2024 or the claims may be forever barred.
Irvin Borenstein,
Personal Representative 7200 S. Alton Way, Suite B 180 Centennial CO 80112
Legal Notice No. DHD 3232 First Publication: August 8, 2024 Last Publication: August 22, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Ruth D. Klein, a/k/a Ruth Dunbar Klein, a/k/a Ruth Klein, a/k/a Ruth Elaine Dunbar Klein, Deceased
Garrett Rymer has been an ambassador for Swim Across America for over a year. After discovering his life-altering spinal cord cancer diagnosis, Rymer has continued to spread awareness and raise money for cancer research for others through his ongoing battle.
SPLASH
“I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in 2017 at the age of 35,” omas said. “It was a terrifying time and we didn’t know how much my treatments would impact my ability to swim in the future. Being able to partner with Swim Across America combines two of my passions: open water swimming and doing everything I can to ght cancer so that others won’t have to go through what I went through.”
According to a press release, the Littleton event has raised $1 million to date and supports three research projects at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
“It’s so special to see survivors getting together and using their stories to help other survivors or potential ghters,” Rymer said.
Rymer would be a senior at Cherry Creek High School this year, but instead of online classes at the school, he’s lling his time with an EMT course at Arapahoe Community College. He’s also joined a search and rescue team this summer, which he said
Public Notices
Case Number: 2024PR030847
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 8, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
James L. Wolfli
Personal Representative
23741 Robertson Blvd Chowchilla, CA 93610
Legal Notice No. DHD 3233
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The Estate of Michael George Zemcik, a/k/a Michael G. Zemcik, a/k/a Michael Zemcik, a/k/a Mike G. Zemcik, a/k/a Mike Zemcik. Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30645
All persons having claims against the above-named Estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court. Denver County, State of Colorado on or before December 16, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Raymond Joseph Zemcik, Personal Representative
1416 Aris Drive, Erie, PA 16505
Legal Notice No. DHD 3235
First Publication: August 15, 2024
Last Publication: August 29, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Teruo Okuno, a/k/a Ted Okuno, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR030690
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Candace Okuno, Personal Representative 93 Carriage Hill Circle
Southborough, MA 01772
Legal Notice No. DHD 3246
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Nelson Whitaker Wagner, Jr.,
a/k/a N. Whitaker Wagner,
a/k/a Whitaker Wagner,
has become a huge part of his life.
He credited organizations like Swim Across America for giving him the con dence to pursue his dreams despite his often-daunting reality. Plus, the money events like these raise save lives, including his.
“What Swim Across America is doing to fund clinical trials is bringing physical healing and basically cures to cancer ghters in a very practical way,” Rymer said. “Beyond that, it brings a lot of optimism to not only survivors or families of survivors, but it really just brings a lot of visibility to cancer bringing all these people together like this. ere are
a/k/a Whit Wagner, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30820
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before 12/08/2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Jonathan S. Wagner, Personal Representative c/o Carleton H. Hutchins
1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, CO 80202
Legal Notice No. DHD 3231
First Publication: August 8, 2024
Last Publication: August 22, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Pamela Z. Varga, aka Pamela Ann Zajak Varga, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30899
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Probate Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before December 31, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Elliott Francis Zajak Varga, Personal Representative
a lot of questions and misconceptions about cancer that Swim Across America has helped to clear up. Bringing that visibility to what ghting cancer looks like just helps to bring some purpose to a lot of what these survivors have gone through.”
To learn more about Swim Across America and the Aug. 17 event, visit www.swimacrossamerica.org.
“We are really proud of this work,” said Nicole Vanderpoel, co-event director for Swim Across AmericaDenver. “And the fact that money raised locally stays local with our support of Children’s Hospital Colorado.”
Patrick R. Thiessen (40185) Frie, Arndt, Danborn & Thiessen P.C. 7400 Wadsworth Blvd., #201 Arvada, Colorado 80003 303/420-1234
Attorney for Personal Representative
Legal Notice No. DHD 3241
First Publication: August 22, 2024 Last Publication: September 5, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Gigi Stone Hooker, a/k/a Gigi S. Hooker, Deceased Case Number 2024PR030914
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Probate Court of the City & County of Denver, Colorado or on or before Monday, December 23, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.
Tracey A. Hooker, Personal Representative 414 S. Gaylord St. Denver, CO 80209
Legal Notice No. DHD 3248
First Publication: August 22, 2024
Last Publication: September 5, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
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Swimmers take to the water in the 2023 Swim Across America event at Chatfield Reservoir in Littleton.
