University of Colorado Denver professor Dr. Wes Marshall started his career as a tra c engineer, but he quickly realized that safety rules in the profession were built on what he described as pillars of sand.
Marshall’s new book, “Killed by a Tra c Engineer,” details the myriad of systemic failures that have led to record numbers of tra c deaths. Tra c crash deaths have taken the lives of more people in the United States than all U.S. wars combined, said Marshall, who has written more than 70 research papers on streets and transportation. He wanted to use this book to go after the foundations of the system.
“ e real problem isn’t just that we put Band-Aids on our problems,” Marshall said, “which is the vicious cycle we are stuck in now. We create terrible roads, throw Band-Aids on here and there, but they don’t x what led to problems in the rst place.”
Marshall’s book opens with a comparison to the very early days of the medical profession, when, one could argue, more people were killed by it than helped. For example, even as recently as the 1940s, Marshall writes, “doctors used Xrays to remove unwanted hair … and gave people cancer.”
e book then pivots to the trafc engineering profession, which is less than 100 years old and has produced a “system that incites bad behaviors and invites crashes.” Marshall asserts that there isn’t one fundamental problem with the system, but many.
Crash data, for example, focuses on human error such as speeding, driving through red lights or jaywalking. Holding the road user at fault lets tra c engineers o the hook, Marshall said, even when data could have predicted the outcome or better design could have prevented crashes.
“Just to say it’s random user error doesn’t get at the fundamental problem, that the system is creating that error,” Marshall said.
In another example, Marshall
describes how engineers often create wide roads – much wider than needed, and designed like highways – that easily allow, even invite, drivers to exceed the speed limit.
He notes that it’s not an error that everyone is speeding on streets like Federal Boulevard, it’s simply typical behavior for the street given its design.
When asked why Federal Boulevard is one of the most dangerous streets in Denver, especially
for pedestrians, Marshall pointed to crash statistics that do not address the fundamental problem of the street. For example, if someone jaywalks and gets hurt or killed, the police will often cite jaywalking as the cause of the crash.
“As engineers and planners, we look at that data and we don’t think we did anything wrong, we just look at it and think we need to put more money into education and enforcement,” Marshall said. Marshall advised that we take a
step back and try to understand why a person would illegally cross the street. e person may have jaywalked on a street like Federal because the nearest crosswalk is a half-mile away and sidewalks leading there might be nonexistent or impassable. He said that road users don’t want to get hurt, but that the built environment and road infrastructure can lead them to make decisions that seem rational given their options.
“To me, that is our fault as engineers that we are not providing people with a safe place to cross,” Marshall said, “but the data would never tell us that. I think we need to dig deeper.”
Marshall noted that the streets tra c engineers have spent the most energy re-engineering, widening and building for speed, like Federal Boulevard, are often the most deadly. Whereas neighborhood streets that have been minimally altered or remain unaltered by tra c engineers are often the most safe.
Marshall also described rules of the profession that are not grounded in safety. For example, many tra c engineers will set a steet’s speed limit based on what they call the “85th percentile rule.” is is the speed at or below which 85 percent of drivers travel on a road segment. So instead of basing the speed limit on what may be the safest for the road conditions or the community the road goes through, it bases the speed limit on how fast drivers are able to travel down the road.
Marshall noted that among the most signi cant of systemic problems are engineering schools that teach tra c engineering practices that lead to systemic failures. Marshall said it gives him hope that CU Denver is trying to provide forward-thinking tools to trafc engineers and planners of the future. A new university program, Human Centered Transportation Education, will o er a minor, certi cate, dual-degree and graduatelevel programs.
Editor’s note: Allen Cowgill is the City Council District 1 appointee to the DOTI Advisory Board, where he serves as the board co-chair.
Wes Marshall’s new book details transportation system failures that lead to deaths.
PHOTO BY ALLEN COWGILL
AmeriTowne: A summer camp that educates and excites
BY MONTY KRAJNIK
SPECIAL TO SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL
Did you know you can learn about nances and economics while having fun? My favorite summer camp does just that. It’s called AmeriTowne and is put on each summer by Young Americans Center for Financial Education.
e camp o ers real-life activities, a ton of knowledge on economics, and you are able to keep the items you purchase with your AmeriTowne money! ere are two locations, Denver and Belmar. Rising third- through fth-graders may attend the week-long camps during June and July. e camp hosts 835 children across 15 di erent camps! Here is what a typical weekly schedule looks like:
Day 1: Introduction to the program; opportunity to run in an election for mayor, police o cer or banker; apply for rst job; classes on checking accounts and business ethics.
Day 2: Learn results of elections and rst AmeriTowne job; spend half day working at job and the other half writing a cover letter.
Day 3: Half day work at a second job while completing challenging tasks; spend half day learning how to write a resume.
Day 4: Half day working at a third job while completing di erent tasks; spend half day participating in a “real” job interview. During the interview, campers talk about why they want the job and why they are quali ed.
knowledge that will prepare them for managing money and making informed nancial decisions in the future.
ere are tons of options for day camps in Denver, but if you want a camp that is educational, interactive and enjoyable you should consider AmeriTowne. is impactful camp is special because it teaches campers, simply, the basics of reallife business scenarios. AmeriTowne has helped me understand how economic processes work through exciting hands-on activities. I love this camp and I encourage you to learn more about it on their website at yacenter.org/summer-camps/.
Day 5: Campers work at their fourth job at the highest position available. ey can purchase items from stores with AmeriTowne debit cards and cash. e second half day includes a debrief of AmeriTowne and a letter of recommendation activity.
Each day campers get opportunities to build experience by working in di erent types of jobs, e.g., photographer, mail person, radio DJ and banker. You cannot do a job twice, and you want to save your favorite job for Friday because that’s when you’ll actually be selling stu and completing the most tasks.
When Merit Brown, a fourth-grade student at Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, was asked for his opinion of the job system, he replied, “It’s good because my dad owns his own business so I knew what to do, so they gave me a good job.”
Brown’s favorite thing about the camp was buying snacks with the money he had earned there.
When Trevor Mayo, director of marketing and communications at Young Americans Center for Financial Education was interviewed, he said his favorite part of AmeriTowne is “witnessing the sheer excitement and wonder on the faces of the children as they step through the AmeriTowne doors for the rst time.”
“It’s a magical moment when they realize that all the knowledge they’ve acquired in the classroom aboutnancial literacy is about to come to life in this immersive experience,” Mayo continued, noting also that kids will gain invaluable skills and
Editor’s note: Monty Krajnik is a sixth-grade student at Skinner Middle School in north Denver.
11 TH ANNUAL
JULY 27 & 28
150 juried artists and craftsmen from across the nation will sell their work in one of Denver’s prized historic parks.
From artist demonstrations to live music and food trucks, it’s the perfect way to spend a summer day!
The “mayor” cuts the ribbon, which signifies that the town is open.
COURTESY OF YOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION
The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival returns to Sloan’s Lake Park this month. This image is the winning artwork from the 2024 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival design contest. Story on page 9.
COURTESY PHOTO/ART BY MARKIEY FANTONIAL (LAWRENCE)
Local clothing line
joins unique
local businesses at Aug. 10-11 Firefly Handmade market in Washington Park
BY MERYL PHAIR
SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL
Sarah Vander Neut recently stitched the nal threads of her 2,500th jacket since starting her Denver based apparel company Vander Jacket.
Each individually designed and sewn product is a work of art for the Aurora based designer, who sources materials from excess fabric found in the metro area, upcycling the surplus deadstock into functional eye-catching pieces. e jackets are thoughtfully crafted to accommodate everything a runner might need, such as a watch hole, longer cu s that can serve as gloves, thumb holes and an assortment of open pockets, like a back pouch to t anything from an extra layer to a water bottle and dog treats.
“Good design is compassionate because it helps people, bringing beauty to their life and solving their problems,” said Vander Neut and for the designer, the creation of Vander Jacket did exactly that. While pregnant with her daughter in 2011, Vander Neut needed a jacket to wear running.
“At the time in Colorado, it was a decade where everyone wore two colors of a pu y coat from Columbia or North Face, or an REI brand,” said Vander Neut.
Unable to nd a jacket that t right for her growing body, and tired of wearing her husband’s old sweatshirt, she designed a few pregnancy jackets to wear. After her daughter was born, she sold her jackets at a ea market in Denver. e jackets were an immediate hit. Along with runners looking for functional and stylish designs, they struck a chord with Colorado’s outdoorsy customer base.
“Coloradans know that you need jackets,” said Vander Neut. “I frequently hear that people are always ready to buy a jacket because they know they’ll wear it.” e business has since expanded from jackets to include athletic vests, tank tops, hats, balaclavas, bags and more. e business now employs a small but productive team of diverse women in the Denver area who craft and distribute the products through their online website as well as locally in Colorado.
“I still get excited that what I make is apparel for people to use during the healthiest hour of their day,” said Vander Neut, who emphasizes the clothing is for anyone to wear regardless of if they run in it or not.
A runner herself, Vander Neut’s eye for
colorful athletic apparel started at a young age growing up in the heart of all things running in Eugene, Oregon. Her dad was a marathon runner for Nike and would often review prototypes for Nike apparel.
“He’d get about 100 miles of wear on a product, which for him was in a week, and take out a yellow legal pad and write what he thought about all of it and send it back,” said Vander Neut. Growing up close to the process of clothing design and learned how to sew from her mother, a passion for fashion design was instilled which took her college in Texas and Idaho before grad school in Colorado, where she ultimately decided to start putting down roots. e idea to use surplus materials was at rst a necessity for the scrappy fashion designer with an eye for picking out a treasure, but quickly became the center of the business’s mission.
As she worked to nd and collect remnant fabric around Denver, she sourced her fabrics from craft stores and local art supplies or reused sites like Craigslist along with local athletic gear companies. Even after twelve years of creating her products, she’s still surprised how much fabric waste and excess materials are in circulation.
As for the potential for scaling up the enterprise, Vander Neut said it would take the right business partner, and in line with their business values, they would have to grow slowly. One major consideration for growth would be access to fabrics.
“ e remnant fabrics that we use can be limiting but it also pushes me to a creative place because of that limit,” said Vander Neut. “It’s like, I just got this load of fabric, and they should be windbreakers so we’re making windbreakers. Our company’s mission sets a limitation that pushes me to innovate.”
Firefly Handmade takes Vander Jacket to the next level
“We did this Chicago Marathon Expo last October which was a big step in my business and that was our best day for sales,” said Vander Neut. “My second-best day was at the Fire y market on a 90-degree day.”
e annual summer Fire y Handmade market on Old South Gaylord Street in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood centers handmade small batch artisans and their unique Colorado products.
Sarah Vander Neut in pink Vander Jacket, just one of over 2,500 the designer has made from excess fabric acquired around the metro area. COURTESY OF VANDER JACKET
Firefly Handmade markets showcase local artisans
The Master’s Apprentice helps its students obtain and retain employment in their chosen field
BY NATALIE KERR
SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL
Two months ago, Jorge Ramirez was working a dead-end retail job that he had no passion for. Today, as a graduate of e Master’s Apprentice, he is a certi ed electrician and beginning an apprenticeship at an electrical company that he sees as the rst step in his lifelong career.
“For me, I was like, if I’m going into this, I’ve gotta put in 100% and hopefully, I get what they’re saying that I can get, which was the job — and I did,” Ramirez said.
e Master’s Apprentice is a Denver-based nonpro t that graduates hundreds of people each year with the skills to become carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers and more from its six-week program. Last year, the program graduated 225 students and boasts an average of about 40% of them nding employment soon after graduation. e program’s success was rewarded in March with a $1 million grant from the Lowes Foundation to increase its capacity.
During the program, students attend classes and visit job sites to nd their desired eld and learn the necessary skills to enter it. Students are paid up to $100 each week, and a $250 Tool & Book Scholarship upon completion to help o oad the time they take o from work to attend. Other nancial assistance is available as well.
e program isn’t just about nding employment, but retaining it, said co-founder Luis Villarreal. rough mentorship and practical education, the students learn nancial literacy, social skills, a strong work ethic, how to write a resume and other professional skills they will use throughout their careers.
in 2013 out of a desire to solve two problems at once: A low supply of trades workers in the metro area, and to serve a demographic of people struggling to get out of deadend jobs and into high-paying, rewarding careers.
“We started with men that are struggling these days, particularly young men without a direction. And we thought, how can we nd a future for them?” Villarreal said.
“We thought that the construction trades were a good avenue where they could earn big money, a trajectory, economic security and social mobility.”
But they’re not in the business of supplying laborers to companies that have no career development opportunities, Villarreal said. e goal is to get people connected to companies with apprenticeship programs that will continue to nourish their skills and goals.
e Master’s Apprentice program directors help participants develop soft skills, such as collaboration, networking, time management and work ethic, Villarreal said. ey provide support both during the program and after graduation to help graduates stay focused and driven towards their goals. e sta continues to reach out to alumni, particularly in the few months following graduation, as well as maintain an alumni network that meets regularly.
e Master’s Apprentice was born
didn’t know what to expect, especially since the program seemed too good to be true, she said. Davis faced challenges in school guring out her future trajectory, and disengaged teachers ultimately let her fall through the cracks.
“It’s kind of like a trampoline,” Villarreal said. “You’ve got all these springs, you fall and the springs bring you back up — it’s a network. If you don’t have a network and you fall, you don’t come up. But the network keeps you engaged, it keeps you going on the right track.”
Finding e Master’s Apprentice turned Ramirez’s life around – not only in his work, but his social network, faith and self-con dence, too. Daily devotionals with the sta helped him reestablish a connection with his faith. He and other students also text in a group chat for general conversation, and to plan fun social events together.
Faith Davis, another recent graduate of e Master’s Apprentice, came into the program with an open mind and ultimately landed on carpentry as her profession. She
Davis stopped participating in many of her classes starting in the fth grade, and never nished high school. She had her son in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and knew she wouldn’t be able to handle remote education.
But e Master’s Apprentice helped her nd a new passion in carpentry and learn the complex mathematics required in the eld. Now, she has a job in carpentry and is working towards her GED.
“It was a classroom setting, but it felt more like a discussion. e teachers actually bothered to care, and sit down and work with me, instead of just looking at me like I was stupid,” Davis said. e program competed nationally to earn the $1 million grant from the Lowes Foundation, and the sta is putting the money to-
wards more tools and supplies for students, classroom spaces, o ce spaces, and anything else that will help attract and graduate more students, Villarreal said.
During his 50 years of helping low-income individuals, Villarreal has seen the impact of making small, but consistent, steps towards overcoming obstacles and nding success, he said. It’s encouraging to watch and he hopes that programs like e Master’s Apprentice helps boost the reputation of trade work, which is often looked down upon.
“Our population oftentimes can feel fatalistic, and that the American dream isn’t for them,” Villarreal said. “ e American dream is for everyone. It’s equal opportunity, but sometimes equal opportunity has to be surrounded with the right kind of support so it becomes more equal, and becomes more accessible.”
To learn more about The Master’s Apprentice, visit themastersapprentice.org.
Jorge Ramirez sands down a piece of cut plywood in the Master’s Apprentice woodwork workshop on June 6.
PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR
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Access to tech is a human right
It’s nally happened. We’ve turned a corner. Everyone now understands that technology is a basic need. Whether it’s because of the rise in remote work or simply the rapid evolution of technology in everything we do, we cannot ignore the role technology plays in our lives.
But here’s what hasn’t happened yet: widespread understanding that older adults also view technology as a basic need. is ignorance is leaving older people behind and reinforcing the unfair bias that we can’t use technology as
we get older.
Just look at the data: Only 64% of U.S. adults over 65 have an active broadband connection in their home. e rest — some 22 million people — lack access to service and/or equipment. No wonder one in four U.S. adults over 65 don’t use the internet, and at least 43% of
Americans 60 and older report feeling lonely.
If we invest now in ensuring we all have equal access to innovative technology, we will create technology that improves how we age in the future. But it must be accessible and a ordable for all older adults and the organizations that serve them. While it’s true that Apple o ers in-store training, not everyone knows about it or can a ord Apple products.
Peter Kaldes
Summer fun for all: DIY paint projects the whole family will love
Beat summer boredom, brighten your home and reuse a valuable resource — all with the power of leftover house paint. Gather the kids, dust o your paintbrushes and get ready for creative, eco-friendly fun. ese DIY paint projects are perfect for family bonding, transforming your space with vibrant colors and unleashing your inner artist, while repurposing your leftover paint.
Planters with personality
Furniture makeover mania
If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding stripes, a funky geometric pattern or even creating a mural.
Ditch those dull, drab planters and create masterpieces with the whole family that your greenery will adore. Let imaginations run wild with stripes, polka dots or rainbows. Want more inspiration? Search online for kid-friendly planter designs — from cute animals to silly faces, the possibilities are endless for painters of all ages. Your plants will love their colorful new homes.
We need more e orts that increase access to technology, programs that promote age-inclusive design and aging-in-place technologies, and policy and advocacy e orts to increase a ordable internet access.
Kevin Lynch
Got a chair that’s seen better days or a side-table that’s a bit too plain? It’s time for a rescue mission. Set up a workspace outside and let everyone participate. Younger kids can help with sanding, while older ones can tackle painting. Choose bright colors for a playful vibe or go for a coordinated theme — it’s your family’s unique creation.
Accent wall adventures
A bold accent wall makes a big style statement, and it’s the perfect summer project for a team e ort. Let the kids pick a fun paint color and have them help with taping or even painting smaller sections.
ankfully, some of our community non-pro t organizations and our state government are making important e orts to meet these needs.
Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette teaches older adults, primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants, basic digital literacy skills. Senior Planet in Denver helps older adults learn new skills, save money, get in shape and make new friends.
Creative ideas for leftovers
Do you still have some leftover paint? Here are some additional DIY ideas for the leftovers:
• Bold birdhouse: Transform a basic wooden birdhouse into a colorful masterpiece.
• Painted rocks: Decorate smooth stones for the garden or write supportive messages and hide them as kindness rocks for others to nd.
• Personalized gifts: Spruce up plain picture frames, owerpots or trinket boxes to make one-of-a-kind presents.
The planet-friendly part e best part of these projects is that you’re teaching valuable lessons about upcycling and taking care of our planet. More than 800 million gallons of architectural
anks to federal dollars, the State of Colorado will soon have a nal Digital Access Plan that will guide how accessible broadband and digital devices, digital skills education and cybersecurity training will help older adults, among other populations.
As businesses, governments and communities adopt and deploy new technologies, we should support these e orts to keep up with
paint are sold in the U.S. each year and as much as 10% of that goes unused. Leftover paint isn’t trash – it’s an opportunity to create something new and reduce waste.
Remember: leftover paint needs love, too
Even after your summer DIY adventures, some paint might remain. Don’t worry — PaintCare, a nonpro t paint recycling program, o ers a convenient way to manage your leftover paint responsibly. Households and businesses can drop o unused house paints, stains and varnishes for free recycling at any of PaintCare’s 208 drop-o sites across Colorado. By participating in this program, you can ensure your paint is recycled properly.
Kevin Lynch is PaintCare’s Colorado program manager. To learn more about PaintCare and nd a drop-o site near you, visit paintcare.org.
our needs. However, we should also expect and demand that we all have access to these new, cutting-edge resources. As with all human rights, technology shouldn’t be saved for the few.
Peter Kaldes, Esq., is the president and CEO of Next50, a national foundation based in Denver. Learn more at next50foundation.org.
BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As the owers bloom, some people su er. It’s a prime time for seasonal allergies, and some may be feeling worse, or su ering longer, than in past years.
e extra-itchy eyes, wheezing and sneezing could be related to climate change, which experts say is happening in Colorado.
“Plants bloom earlier, bloom later, di erent species are moving in,” Dr. Ming Wu, a family medicine doctor at AdventHealth Littleton, said. “With all of this change, we’re encountering things that our bodies have never encountered before.”
Allergies are overreactions to environmental stimuli, Wu said. Allergic reactions happen when the body perceives something not normally
harmful as dangerous. To combat what the body perceives as a threat, the immune system ghts against the stimulus – for instance, pollen –triggering allergy symptoms.
Climate change has brought concern to Colorado, which is expected in the years ahead to trend warmer, including earlier snowmelt in the spring, hotter summers and drier soils. Such a shift has the power, over time, to bring more of certain kinds of plants while other kinds struggle, according to state scientists.
Environmental changes can impact pollen seasons. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, climate change can cause shifts in precipitation, fewer frost days, warmer air temperatures and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. ese changes can a ect the length of the pollen season, how much pol-
len plants create, how much is in the air and how likely the pollen is to cause irritation, according to the CDC.
is year in Colorado, Wu said the weather may play a role in people’s experiences.
“Environmental allergies could potentially be worse because we’ve had a lot more rainfall, it’s been a lot wetter,” he said. “Mold, pollen — those are going to be higher … in the environment and that can cause issues.”
He said it can be challenging for some people to know whether symptoms are related to allergies or a viral illness, since they often have similar symptoms. Both seasonal allergies and viral illnesses can involve a runny nose, sneezing, di culty breathing, ear pain and skin rashes, he said.
Colorado Community Media to Hold its First 5K Run
BY JO ANN M. COLTON
There is no better way to appreciate the beauty of Colorado than by witnessing all the sights and sounds of the great outdoors.
from walking and/or running along our state’s many wonderful paths and scenic nature trails.
Join Colorado Community Media as we host our first-ever 5K run on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Clement Park, 7306 W. Bowles Ave. in Littleton.
And, before the run, we want you to submit your own “Trail Tales,” including photos, to your local newspaper (events@coloradocommunitymedia. com). Tell us where you most enjoy going for a walk or a run in your commuor elsewhere in Colorado.
In turn, we will share many of those adventurous tales with the readers of our two dozen community newspapers in the weeks ahead of the run. About the 5k: It is scheduled to loop around Johnston Reservoir from 9:30 a.m. to noon. It will start and end on the bike path near Shelter P. The event is different from most 5k runs in many ways. For starters, the sole purpose of this event is to simply provide an opportunity for people across Colorado to come together, interact, and share their personal experiences gained
There are no prizes associated with the event and participants will not receive a “standard” T-shirt. Instead, registered participants will receive a pair of custom running socks. The Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run is open to people of all ages. Participants have the option of making it a fun-filled day for the entire family. Registration fees are $35 for adults (ages 17 & up), $15 (ages 5 to 16), and free for children (ages 4 and under ). Parking for run participants and event attendees is available in the west parking lot, which can be reached as you enter Clement Park through the Library entrance on W. Bowles Avenue.
Park is currently being firmed up to feature other activities throughout the day including food and beverage purchase options offered by local food trucks, vendor booths, and live music entertainment.
“Your support of this event as a race participant and/or as an attendee is paramount to the success of our first Share Your Trail Tales 5k Run and it will help us sustain our ability to support local news,” Scott said. “We encourage the engagement of our readers and future readers to be part of this and future events at Colorado Community Media.”
Colorado Community Media publications span eight counties along Colorado’s majestic Front Range — Weld, Adams, Jeffco, Clear Creek, Douglas, Elbert, Arapahoe and Denver. As a nonprofit organization, community is important to us and we are eager to reach out and meet members of the communities our news organization serves.
Carlie Scott, Colorado Community Media’s events director, stated that the program for the Aug. 24 run in Clement
Colorado Community Media could not put on events like this 5k run without the help of its dedicated supporters and sponsors. Sponsorship provides an ideal marketing prospect for your business and positive brand recognition. The organization offers many levels of sponsorship and opportunities for involvement. As a sponsor, you can be part of a fun community event that promotes health and wellness.
To register for the Share Your Trail Tales 5k please visit our website www.coloradocommunitymedia.com and click on EVENTS/CONTEST tab.
A bee covered in pollen. SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
SEE ALLERGIES, P15
24th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival to take place at Sloan’s Lake on July 27-28
BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL
As the legend goes, an ancient Chinese poet and court o cial named Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest of the corrupt imperial government. Onlookers from the nearby village rushed into the river with their boats to retrieve Qu Yuan’s body, violently thrashing at sh with their paddles along the way to prevent them from eating his quickly decaying esh. is is said to be the origin of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, and ultimately the dragon boat race.
Historically, the Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fth day of the fth lunar month, a traditionally unlucky time of the year. According to the Smithsonian Institute, the festival incorporates several traditions that work to rid people of misfortune during this time. Parents, for example, give their children ve threads of colored silk to carry around with them during the Dragon Boat Festival. e threads are meant to keep negative spirits at bay.
To honor this Chinese tradition,
communities all over the world hold Dragon Boat Festivals, incorporating food, arts and sports, all in celebration of Chinese history and culture.
Denver’s Sloan’s Lake Park is home to the United States’ largest Dragon Boat Festival, attracting nearly 200,000 attendees in recent years. e Colorado Dragon Boat Festival debuted in 2001 with the mission of building bridges of awareness, knowledge and understanding between the diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Paci c Islander (AANHPI) communities in Colorado and the general public through cultural education, leadership development and athletic competition.
e 2024 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will take place on the north side of Sloan’s Lake Park on July 2728. In addition to the much-anticipated dragon boat races, the festival will include an Asian Marketplace where vendors and artists will be selling wares, two Taste of Asia food courts, and a stage for live music. It will also feature live art demos, eye dotting ceremony, a performing arts stage, water zorbs and a drag-
onland kids play area.
“Our festival stands out because we are not just about Dragon Boat races. We are an arts and culture festival that also highlights and promotes the ancient sport of Dragon Boating. On land, we feature three stages with over 60 performances from community organizations, including Taiko drumming, Indian dance, and K-pop battles,” said Sara Moore, executive director of Colorado Dragon Boat, a non-pro t established in 2001.
COLORADO DRAGON BOAT BY THE NUMBERS
Volunteers: 400
Attendees: 200,000
Performers & Vendors: 180
IF YOU GO
Dates: July 27 & 28
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Sloan’s Lake Park, Denver Learn more: cdbf.org
The Dragon Boat Races on Sloan’s Lake are a highlight of the festival.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF COLORADO DRAGON BOAT
Attendees of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
Governor Jared Polis poses with volunteers at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.
Takes on grueling 10-day bucket list race
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Dubbed “the longest and toughest horse race in the world,” riders from all over the globe will travel to Mongolia this August to compete in the annual Mongol Derby, a treacherous, 10-day pilgrimage on horseback. And one of them lives in North Denver.
Based on the ancient postal system Genghis Khan used to deliver messages across his empire, the race pits nearly 40 riders against rugged and dangerous terrain for eight hours a day across the Mongolian steppe between August 7-16. Only about 4% of racing applicants are accepted. Gideon Kotkowski, a Sloan’s Lake neighborhood resident, made the cut this year.
Kowkowski had just graduated college in 2018 when he discovered the Mongol Derby on social media. He was “broke as a nail” at that time and it’s an expensive adventure. But after going down the rabbit hole and learning more, he put it on his bucket list.
“I actually printed out some pictures of the Derby of that year and put them up in my bedroom so that every day as I woke up and went to sleep, it was the rst and last thing I saw,” Kotkowski said. “And I thought to myself, ‘One day, I’m going to do this.’”
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Kotkowski has been riding horses since he was a child. At about 14 years old, he said he was lucky to land at a polo ranch in El Paso called “Los Amigos.” at turned into a lustrous college polo career at Texas A&M, where Kotkowski snagged a couple of national championships.
But even the most experienced riders are in for a big challenge in Mongolia; some don’t even nish the race. At a distance equal to riding from Kansas City to Denver, riders travel over 60 miles per day, changing horses every 25 miles.
And these aren’t polo-ish, country-club style horses; they are semiwild, which Kotkowski described as “domesticated but feral.”
“As an adrenaline junkie and a horseback rider, this is absolutely the pinnacle of the sport,” he said. “It
tests your physical endurance, your horsemanship, your ability to connect with over 40 horses across the entire race. You’re riding Mongolian ponies, so they’re still pretty crazy.”
In 2021, the Equestrianists (the organization that puts on the Mongol Derby) partnered with the Mongolian nonpro t Steppe and Hoof, www. steppeandhoof.org, which helps to preserve and enhance the lifestyles of the remaining nomadic herders and their families in the country.
From a total population of 3.2 million Mongolian people, only about 169,000 nomadic families remain today. Each rider is asked to raise money for Steppe and Hoof as a thank you to the herders. View Kotkowski’s athlete pamphlet at tinyurl. com/gideon-derby to help with his fundraising e orts.
For more from Kotkowski, check out the Q&A below.
Renfrow: What was your reaction to getting that acceptance email?
Kotkowski: I was pumped. But my hands started clamming up, as they are now and anytime I talk about it. I got really nervous. It got real really quickly and now it’s going to happen here in August. It’s like a dream come true for me. I just get chills thinking about being able to do this. Horses in Mongolia and for horse people, it’s one of the craziest things. You can e ectively trace all horse sports back to Mongolia. It’s amazing.
Renfrow: What goes into the preparation or training process for some-
thing so unique like this?
Kotkowski: So, these last few months, I’ve been training as if I’m going to run a marathon. at’s a good type of training because it’s endurance, cardio and heart. As far as replicating the race, riding eight hours a day is nearly impossible to nd. ere are some local Facebook groups that I’ve tapped into with folks who might have an extra horse that needs help being worked. So, I’ll go out to their barn and help them muck stalls and in exchange I get to ride their ponies. I’ve been to some trail rides as well … Just trying to get as much saddle time as possible.
Renfrow: Riding semi-wild horses will likely be much di erent than ranch ponies. Is that nerve-wracking?
Kotkowski: When it comes to riding di erent horses, I feel like I might be at an advantage because coming from the polo discipline, you grow up playing all sorts of di erent horses. I’ve got a method to the madness about picking up what kind of horse I’m riding pretty quickly … at part of the race, to me, is just exciting. I’m not as nervous as I am just pumped that I get to ride descendants of the great Genghis Khan ponies that helped conquer the world. Renfrow: Is it enough to just go, be enchanted and enjoy the race, or is the competitor in you dying to win it?
Kowkowski: To me, I’m going there with the plan to win. I certainly am and I continue to tell myself
that I’m not going there with any other mission but to win. However, this is much more than just a race. You’re riding with 35 other athletes who are just as crazy as you are and who are just as passionate about horse racing as you are. At the end of the day, nishing the race would be enough of a win.
Renfrow: What’s the most intimidating part of the race for you?
Kowkowski: e things that I can’t plan for, which are the weather, or what I’m going to eat (lots of mutton, apparently), or where I’m going to be when inevitably I’m going to have to go to the restroom or something like that.
Renfrow: Is there a bene t to training in Colorado ahead of time?
Kotkowski: Absolutely. e elevation training. Being at elevation and horseback riding is a unique advantage for me. ere will be mountains to climb, there will be hills to come down from and understanding a horse’s sure-footedness is a big part of the training as well.
Renfrow: Lastly, you get a 5kg backpack (about 11 pounds) for the race. What are some essentials you’re bringing with you?
Kowkowski: (Laughs) A Leatherman multitool for sure, electrolyte packets, and dude, I don’t think I could do this race without my Honey Stingers. Need those. And the last piece I’m not going without is anti-cha ng powders and creams, 100%.
Riders race across the Mongolian steppe during last season’s Mongol Derby. The race, dubbed the “longest and toughest horse race in the world” pits some 35 riders against one another through unpredictable weather, tough terrain and semi-wild horses.
Second annual street fair returns July 20
BY BRUCE GOLDBERG
SPECIAL TO LIFE ON CAPITOL HILL
e inaugural Tennyson Street Fair in north Denver went well last year, drawing roughly 15,000 people who came to eat, drink, check out homemade art objects and hear live music. Not to mention that the event drew about 100 exhibitors.
e event did well enough to jump the number of this year’s exhibitors by about 33% to 150 – a big step for something so new. e Tennyson Street Fair returns this year from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. Attendance is free.
A portion of fair proceeds will bene t the Tennyson Berkeley Business Association. Organizers recommend that attendees take Lyft, Uber or public transportation to avoid parking problems. e block party will run along Tennyson from West 41st Avenue to West 43rd Avenue. What do organizers wish for this year?
IF YOU GO
Date: July 20
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Tennyson Street from West 41st to West 43rd
Learn more: tennysonstreetfair.com
will be 15 food trucks, including one selling sushi. More than 100 makers selling handcrafted jewelry, rugs, spices, art, candles, skin-care products and more. In atable devices will be available for kids to enjoy, and there will be yoga sessions — be sure to bring your own mat. e live music lineup includes Native Space and Break Signals.
Attendees will have the opportunity to dine at restaurants such as Hops & Pie, Bakery Four, Atomic Cowboy, Meat Wagon, Bohemian Wurst Co. and Heckin’ Good Bubble Tea; and breweries will include FlyteCO Brewing, Call to Arms Brewing, e Empourium Brewing Co. and Berkeley Alley.
“Really building the community and showing o what the community has to o er,” said Nathan Karnemaat, event director at Team Player
Productions, which produces the event. “Year one was a huge success. We had a lot of local businesses that participated. We love to show o the community and what it’s all about.”
He also credited the City of Denver for such items as pulling all the permits needed for the event, and clos-
ing the streets during it.
“We work with Denver police to make sure it’s as safe as can be,” Karnemaat said. “We were very happy with the turnout for year one. It’s really about getting the word out in the community.”
e event has a lot to o er. ere
“ is is the second year we’re doing this,” said Lee Ann Hahne, general manager of FlyteCO Brewing, who also serves as a TBAA board member. “We got involved because we’re very community-based.”
Revelers enjoy live music, kid-friendly activities and culinary options from restaurants along Tennyson and 15 di erent food trucks. COURTESY OF RYAN COX PHOTOGRAPHY
TRADITION
ose involved with Colorado Dragon Boat believe that AANHPI representation is crucial, especially in Colorado. e AANHPI umbrella encompasses more than 40 di erent ethnicities and cultures.
“In Colorado, only about 4% of the population identi es as AANHPI, highlighting the need for our communities to unite to be seen and heard,” said Moore. “ is is precisely why Colorado Dragon Boat, the non-
STREET FAIR
FlyteCO Brewing is an “aviationthemed” brewery. It runs a brewery, bar, restaurant and entertainment
pro t that hosts the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, was established.”
Moore added that the three founders – Ding Wen Hsu, Howie Solow and John Chin – recognized the necessity of bringing diverse AANHPI communities together to celebrate a collective impact.
“ e Colorado Dragon Boat Festival not only unites our AANHPI communities in a safe and fun environment to celebrate and promote our remarkable contributions and achievements, but also invites the general public to join us in celebration,” Moore said. “Although we are an AANHPI festival, many attendees
site, located at a former air-tra c control tower in Denver’s Central Park.
FlyteCO’s other location is at 4499 38th Ave., which celebrated ve years in business recently.
“When the company asked if we wanted to do the summer fest, we thought it would be a great idea to
come from other marginalized and underrepresented communities. We strive to create a safe space for everyone to celebrate art and culture.”
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a signi cant increase in antiAsian sentiment and hate, making the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival even more vital in the post-pandemic era.
“It is heartwarming to see so many Coloradans and others support our community after such a challenging time. In 2023, over 200,000 attendees joined our two-day event, demonstrating Coloradans’ strong desire to support and uplift diversity and culture. We are a staple in Colorado
introduce people to our incredible neighborhood,” Hahne said. “Tennyson Street has so many incredible restaurants, four breweries, bars and shops. We’re hoping to make it a destination place.”
FlyteCO Brewing o ers a pilot’s discount at both locations.
LET THE PROS HANDLE
history, as well as one of the largest events in Denver year after year,” Moore said.
Moore added that planning for the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is a year-round endeavor, and sta and volunteers are always introducing new and exciting elements to keep the festival fresh and relevant each year.
“For our sta , this event is a passion project that inspires them daily,” Moore said. “However, the festival would not be possible without the hundreds of community volunteers who devote their time and energy to ensuring a safe and enjoyable event each year.”
“We love to show o the community and what it’s all about,” Hahne said. “ e biggest thing is to highlight what Tennyson Street and the business owners of Tennyson have to o er, bringing more people into the area to partake in our restaurants, bars and shops.”
Over the years, Fire y Handmade has evolved from its establishment in 2010 by three friends in Boulder, to a vibrant community of makers. e market is held three times a year in the spring, summer and fall with two holiday markets, one in Denver and one in Boulder, held annually.
Each market is selective with artists from sixteen categories of
ALLERGIES
To tell the di erence, he said to look out for a few speci c symptoms.
“ e biggest things that I’ve no-
goods ranging from skincare, ceramics, jewelry and apparel to visual art. While many artists return every year, about a quarter are new to the scene, ensuring each market is fresh with new products to showcase. Artists are required to be on site for the festivals, which Beth Pomerantz, owner and creative director of Fire y since 2013, stresses is an essential piece to the unique feel of the market.
“We think it’s important for them to be able to share their stories,” said Pomerantz. “We’ve grown a great community of artisans, shop-
ticed with allergies that don’t really follow with a viral illness are itchy, watery eyes, and viral illnesses usually will present with fever, whereas allergies don’t present with a fever,” he said.
For people struggling with their seasonal allergies this year, Wu recommends over-the-counter an-
pers and friends of Fire y. We have also been fortunate to have a huge amount of support from the communities where the festivals take place.”
To support the community in return, Pomerantz said the festival connects customers with local businesses near the markets. Instead of bringing in food trucks, for example, Fire y encourages festival shoppers to stop into the restaurants and shops surrounding the marketplace. Pomerantz hopes that local businesses will see more customers not only during the fes-
tihistamines. For people who need extra help, doctors can prescribe stronger allergy medications, steroids or immunotherapy, a process that slowly exposes a person to allergens to build tolerance.
“(Immunotherapy is) useful for environmental allergies, insect allergies (and) asthma,” he said. “ is
Unbeatable
IF YOU GO
Dates: Aug. 10 & 11
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Historic South Gaylord Street, 1000 Block of South Gaylord Street (between Tennessee & Mississippi) Learn more: fireflyhandmade.com
tival itself, but year-round through the additional exposure.
e Fire y Handmade summer market also features live music and is, of course, pup friendly.
should be done, obviously, with medical supervision.”
For pollen allergies, Wu said some people nd that eating local honey can be a natural remedy. is is not a proven solution, he said, but some believe it helps slowly build immunity to the pollen in their area.
three years ago, she said.
As a former swimmer for St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood, she had the tools to be a strong underwater hockey player. But she didn’t know what to make of the sport at rst.
“I saw a poster one day for a pool in ornton and it was like, ‘underwater hockey,’ and I was really committed to swimming at that point so I was like, ‘ at’s weird. I don’t know,’” Brooks said.
But later as a student at Colorado State, Brooks was strolling the quad and saw booths for clubs. One was serendipitously for underwater hockey.
“ is girl, who was actually Elsa’s older sister (Ianna Debrunner), was like, ‘Hey! Do you want to play underwater hockey?’” Brooks said. “You know what? Maybe I do.”
BY YORI HUYNH
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Colorado is a huge hub for hockey players and fans, whether on ice, on the eld or even underwater. And why not? If it’s a sport, we have it here.
Ten women under age 24 are set to represent the U.S. at the Underwater Hockey Age Group World Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this July and of course, three are Coloradans. Elsa Debrunner, Lillianna Brooks and Aria Paul will compete in the event between July 16 and July 27 against about a dozen teams from around the globe. e U.S. is sending three teams spanning three divisions to the upcoming world championship: U24 men, U24 women and U19 men. Debrunner, Brooks and Paul are on the USA U24 Women’s Team.
“Training for worlds is a big commitment, but training with Lillianna and Aria is super encouraging and makes me super excited to play more hockey,” said Debrunner, a Conifer High School alum and club athlete at the Colorado School of Mines.
What is underwater hockey?
It’s a non-contact snorkeling sport with two teams of six facing o at the bottom of the pool. A weighted puck can be pushed, slid or icked with a short stick into the goal. Equipment includes a mask, ns, a snorkel with a mouthguard,
a glove, a water polo cap and a stick.
Teammates rotate dives for roughly ve-to-20 seconds in a fast-paced, three-dimensional sport that combines the back-and-forth motion of regular hockey with up-and-down movements to return up for air between dives.
“It’s physically di erent than any other sport,” Debrunner said. “But once you learn that, the communication with your team is probably the hardest part.
You have to have a strategy really dialed in ahead of time because it’s di cult to communicate during the match.”
It requires elite breath control, tness and strong cooperation between coaches and teammates, Debrunner said. But the coaches believe the team is ready for a strong showing in Malaysia.
“We’re really impressed with the progress made since the team candidates rst got together. e commitment towards training and implementation of the game plan started at a high level and has seemed to grow,” Coach Kendall Banks said in a release. “ rough their support of each other combined with healthy competition, there seems to be a synergy or ‘magic’ here. We’re excited to see where it takes the team.”
Colorado connections
Debrunner and Brooks are from Colorado originally, and Paul is from San Francisco but attends Colorado State University with Brooks. Brooks got into underwater hockey about
Since plunging into underwater hockey, Brooks has had tunnel vision for a spot on the U.S. team. But it’s a stop on her way to a bigger goal: being chosen on the USA Women’s Elite Team, which is a collection of the best players regardless of age.
Still, representing her country competitively is a dream come true. e team will battle against “10 to 12” other national teams, including Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and others.
A collection of women from all over the country, the national team met in January at a tournament in Colorado for the rst time. ey also had a training camp in Lake Tahoe in California for a week earlier this year.
But Brooks, Debrunner and Paul have an advantage being able to train together at Carmody Recreation Center in Lakewood and Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in ornton. ey’ll stay on their grind until it’s time to travel overseas for global glory.
How to follow the team
e championships in Malaysia will be livestreamed with commentators on YouTube. To follow the team on social media, visit the following links: Instagram: @usa.u24w.uwh Facebook: USAU24Women’s UnderwaterHockey Team website: https://www. underwater-society.org/page/ show/8276732-u24-women For more information visit the tournament website at www.6thuwhagworlds.com.
Elsa Debrunner, the team captain of the U24 Women’s underwater hockey team, is a Conifer High School alum. Above, she’s pictured diving with her hockey stick after coming up for air in the Pacific Coast Championships tournament in Orange County, California in October 2023.
PHOTO
Aria Paul is originally from San Francisco but attends Colorado State with Lillianna Brooks. Paul has found a home with her Colorado underwater hockey players.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Lillianna Brooks swam at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood before attending Colorado State University, where she found underwater hockey.
