The local rewilding project has created jobs for refugees through a collaboration with the African
BY MERYL PHAIR
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Avi Stopper walks out into his yard and watches a hummingbird feed from a red trumpet-shaped Zauschneria ower. Evolving together in the dry Colorado environment, the native plant and its pollinator are a feature in Stopper’s yard through the e orts of Plant an Oasis, a community group in West Washington Park working to revitalize the neighborhood’s unused grass spaces with native plants.
“We call it ‘beverage in hand maintenance,’ which is you don’t just have your yard, but you really enjoy it as your piece of nature,” said Stopper, whose experience with community organizing led him to head the project. “A great way to do this is to take a cup of co ee out in the morning, pick a weed here, water a plant there and appreciate the garden’s growth and changes,” he said.
By activating unused yard space, Plant an Oasis is transforming the urban neighborhood into a landscape of native plants, bene ting yard owners, passersby and the wider community. In time, plants attract native pollinators like bees, butter ies and birds to enhance biodiversity in the area.
e organization was initially formed by Deb Lebow, known affectionately across West Washington Park as the Resident Mayor of Plants. Lebow’s reputation as a gardener had many in the neighborhood wondering how they could similarly revitalize their yards.
Lebow approached Stopper about her idea to form a volunteer initiative in the community to help neighbors replace unused grass and weeds with native plants. After recruiting volunteers and a neighbor with available yard space, the group got to work on their rst project, leaving signs encouraging anyone interested in the initiative to get in touch.
“People started to put in requests which began to radically exceed the amount of volunteer capacity we had, even though the volunteer list had gotten quite large,” Stopper said. Previously involved with a refugee resettlement organization called the African Community Center (ACC), Stopper reached out to gauge interest in the rewilding project among recent arrivals to Denver. Plant an Oasis has since provided job placement opportunities to refugees, many of whom came to the United States from Afghanistan. e program has provided several with long-term employment, while
Community Center
others have used the opportunity as a bridge to employment more suited to their skill sets. Stopper said the program has been especially helpful in providing refugees with an opportunity to interact directly with American consumers and homeowners.
To further build community, the organization leads neighborhood walks to observe completed projects and it conducts about two volunteer projects a month.
To request service, homeowners ll out a form on the Plant an Oasis website and a representative gets in touch to discuss the project. On the day of the project, a volunteer or refugee crew prepares and con-
structs the plot, adds mulch and begins planting. For volunteer crews, homeowners pay for materials. When a refugee crew is on site, costs include labor.
Plants are selected based on garden plot factors such as shade and access to water. Native plants like drummond’s catchy, fringed sage and black eyed susan are frequent picks. e organization also prioritizes low-impact gardening, relying on mechanically powered tools only when necessary, and rarely moving soil and rocks overturned in the gardening process.
Neighborhood volunteers take a break from their work in West Washington Park.
COURTESY OF PLANT AN OASIS
cludes Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m.
At Commons Park, trucks are permitted ursday evenings from 5 to
At Paco Sánchez, food trucks are permitted for business on Wednesdays from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (except
Figueroa said that the idea for the program, “Feast In Denver’s Nature,” came about after talks with the various communities. When it appeared to make sense – other cities have been doing it for years – the city invited vendors to apply and obtain a permit, a $300 investment. e history of food trucks is long. But over the last several years their evolution has been meteoric. e factory parking lot and construction-site staple food trucks, often referred to as “roach coaches,” where one can buy sandwiches and co ee still exist, but they stand in stark contrast to many modern food trucks. It may be considered the culinary contrast between Henry Ford and Elon Musk.
restaurant. I didn’t want to work seven days a week,” he said. He added he’s also strictly a “seasonal guy.” When cooking season’s over, Prom waxes up the snowboard, his other passion.
Figueroa said that when summer is over, DPR will evaluate how the pilot o ering has gone. e rst session experienced what Figueroa described as a few bumps in the road. When customers didn’t arrive in numbers that made it worth their while, some food truck operators left to nd business elsewhere.
“We’ll have surveys,” she said, and DPR will talk with both vendors and consumers. en, DPR will determine whether permits for food trucks in Denver parks will continue into the city’s future.
BY ERNEST GURULÉ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
One of summer’s greatest pleasures is dining al fresco. In part, it provides a break from the blistering summer heat and from preparing meals in a hot kitchen.
Now, in a two-part trial run under the auspices of Denver Parks and Recreation, dining al fresco in the parks is a real option.
e rst session ran through July 17. e second runs July 20 through Aug. 31.
“We wanted to space it out,” said DPR’s Stephanie Figueroa. By kicking things o early in the summer and ending at the end of August, Figueroa said “we’re catching both ends of the summer.”
e sites for the pilot program are Washington Park at East Kentucky and South Downing, Commons Park at 15th Street and Little Raven Street, and Paco Sánchez Park at West 12th and Knox Court. Washington Park’s schedule in-
Figueroa said vendors who applied for the program feature fare ranging from Haitian cashew chicken to Mississippi cat sh and ribs to Asian fusion potstickers and shrimp. Of course, there are other menus, as well as more traditional summer o erings of ice cream cones and sundaes.
WeChef Kitchen, John Prom’s food truck, o ers a mostly Cambodian are with its menu. Beside cooking up cream cheese wontons and Asian street tacos, Prom has improvised with snacks aimed at a more American palate, like his Korean bulgogi meatballs. Same thing with his tacos.
“Instead of a Spanish taco we do a Chinese taco,” he explained. It looks basically the same as a conventional taco, but features Chinese spices. Prom, whose family is Cambodian and who cooks while his son and daughter take orders and also cook, has found success with his hybrid menu.
Running a food truck was a nobrainer for Prom. Unlike his extended family, he wanted no part of traditional brick-and-mortar.
“ is is a lot cheaper than having a
Customers line up to enjoy the o ering from John Prom’s WeChef Kitchen parked at Commons Park. Commons Park is one of three Denver parks participating in the city’s food-truck permitting experiment. PHOTO BY ERNEST GURULÉ
PHOTO BY JAMES SCHOEDLER
e Art Students League of Denver’s Summer Art Market will take place Aug. 24-25 in the streets surrounding the organization’s West Wash Park building. e market will feature all-original works in 12 artistic disciplines, as well as artmaking demonstrations, a KidArt
area and food and drink vendors.
More than 175 exhibitors, including 35 rst-time vendors, will bring the event to life with their work, including ceramists, painters, photographers, metalsmiths, sculptors, ber artists and more.
Tickets, priced at $5 for adults
(kids 12 and younger are free), go on sale Aug. 1 and are good for both market days.
e Summer Art Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug 24 and 25 at 200 Grant St. For more information, visit asld.org.
This exhibition is a joint venture between and produced by the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, Canada and MuseumsPartner in Austria.
Emerging and established artists showcase and sell their works at the Summer Art Market.
COURTESY OF THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER
The projects address flood risk and restoration to improve the health and accessibility of the river
BY NATALIE KERR
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
For years, the South Platte River has been a devalued and mistreated part of Denver’s geography, in decades past being used as a dumping ground making large sections of the river unswimmable.
A new Denver City Council committee is looking to write a di erent future for the river and the communities that stretch along its 12.5-mile corridor within Denver city limits. Any project within a half mile on either side of the riverbank will be considered by the committee which will assess how development will impact the health and accessibility of the river.
e rst meeting on July 17 raised and unilaterally approved three projects, none of which require a new budget. Approved projects include: a riverfront park in Sun Valley that is slated to feature a community farm, ethnobotanical gardens, a central culture plaza, a playground and public trails; river trail widening and lighting improvements near Valverde Park as well as a new park featuring displays about water quality and conservation; and replacement of a structurally unsound retaining wall and trail upgrades along Vanderbilt Park.
A total of 13 projects are currently proposed along the river, which will be funded through a 2023 $550 million partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to invest in South Platte River restoration and reduced ood risk.
Flood mitigation projects will break ground this summer, while others like the Sun Valley riverfront park will begin development in 2025. Most of the
projects are expected to take nine to 12 months to complete.
Soil testing and remediation measures could add to costs, said Cinceré Eades, assistant director of Urban Ecology and Trails at Denver Parks & Recreation, but developers won’t know what’s in the river — though they expect there may be asbestos — until they begin digging.
Historic ooding and industrial runo from dog waste, industrial plants, homeless camps and malfunctioning septic systems have contributed to pollution in the river. e biggest ooding event was in 1965, one of Denver’s largest natural disasters to date, which claimed 21 lives and damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings — many of which were built with materials containing asbestos.
District 7 council member Flor Alvidrez, whose district includes the stretch of the river from West 6th Avenue to Yale Avenue, expressed a desire to learn more from the project managers about how stormwater owing into the river will be protected from industrial waste, trash and fecal pollution, which has seen an uptick in recent years.
“I would like the public to understand what we’re doing,” she said. “I am concerned and would like to learn more about how we’re protecting our water from trash and human waste.”
e committee is made up of seven council members representing districts along the river. e committee will meet monthly each second Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the City and County Building and on Channel 8. e committee endeavors to bring more visibility and coordination to e orts to improve the river for recre-
What could Governors’ Park and Quality Hill Park look like?
Denver Parks and Recreation
(DPR) invites Capitol Hill residents to learn about and give feedback on design options it has developed for
ation and its protection as a vital natural resource, said committee chair Jamie Torres.
Alvidrez hopes to see her district’s relationship to the river change from a place that people stay away from, to a place where people can gather to build community and enjoy Denver’s natural landscape.
“ is is a really big change in the way we have lived next to the river,” Alvidrez said. “Right now if you go to the district and you go to the river, it’s pretty much industrial businesses, so to continue to make it a place for people to have access to water is so exciting — for wellbeing, for mental health, for so many reasons.”
Governors’ Park and Quality Hill Park based on community input it has collected to date.
According to DPR, hundreds of
feedback points were collected from those who care about the two Capitol Hill parks on topics including how they use the park today, the challenges and opportunities they see and what they’d like to see in the future.
e virtual public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 6.
To RSVP and for more information about the Reimagine Cap. Hill Parks project, visit bit.ly/caphillparks.
A family of ducks swims up the South Platte River. The river has historically been a ected by high levels of pollution, which a new committee hopes to remediate. PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR
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TFROM THE EDITOR
his month I take over for Christy Steadman as your next editor of the Washington Park Pro le Please join me in thanking Christy — who has been promoted within our newsroom — for four years of commitment to the community readers have seen re ected in these pages.
The countdown is on for both parents and kiddos. e new school year means a return to routines, perhaps slightly less chaos, earlier bedtimes and a break from constant snack and entertainment requests. It means excitement about new teachers, making new friends and seeing old friends. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you and your family gear up for a successful and low-stress start to the school year.
1. Organize your supplies
It starts with the school supply list and honestly, as a Type A oldest child, I loved school supply shopping and I still get excited about getting my daughter’s supply lists. Shopping early can help avoid the last-minute rush and ensure you get everything on your list. Consider buying in bulk
I came to community news through a column I pitched to my own neighborhood newspaper, e Denver North Star. “ e Gray Zone” was intended to ensure the lives of older adults didn’t get lost in pages meant to cover a rapidly changing northwest Denver. I wasn’t much of a writer back then. Discovering my community turned me into one.
Since then I’ve covered everything from local government to centenarians to psychics. I learn something new about Denver’s communities and people every day. I’ve lived in Denver for 33 years — in Congress Park, Baker, Berkeley and West Highland. In May, I wrapped up 24 consecutive years as a parent with children attending Denver Public Schools.
In this month’s pages, I hope you too will learn something new.
for items that will be used throughout the year. And don’t forget to label belongings to prevent lost items. ere are many cool options for stickers and stamps to make this even easier.
2. Update the wardrobe Planning that rst-day out t is a back-to-school fave. But rst, be sure to take inventory of your child’s current clothes to identify what they truly need, what needs to be replaced and what they’ve outgrown. As you gather
We’ve assembled an array of possibilities, from a look at the extraordinary 125th anniversary celebration planned for Washington Park Aug. 7 to e orts to reduce speeding along Alameda Boulevard. And this month we bring you “Check it Out,” the rst in an ongoing book review column by local librarians from Virgina Village and Decker branch libraries.
Say hello when you see me at a neighborhood co ee shop, library or at a community meeting. Email your ideas, concerns and questions. A favorite author of mine, Margaret Wheatley, once wrote, “ ere is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
I look forward to lling these pages with things you care about.
Kathryn White, kathryn@cotln.org
“Go Gold Colorado” Dedicated to Colorado athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Solve by starting at the “S,” then working your way to “W” for the win. Hit a dead end? Start over, like a champion.
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway
Kathryn White
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
BALANCE
clothes for donation, consider organizations that accept clothing and other back-to-school supplies to support kids. Take advantage of back-to-school sales to purchase new clothes, shoes and accessories, and don’t forget about hand-medowns as well. If your school has a uniform policy, be sure you have enough sets to last through the week to prevent midweek laundry stress.
3. Set up a study space
Creating a dedicated study space at home is a great way to help motivate your child to do homework. Get your kids involved in preparing the space, from choosing decorations to picking out fun pens, a cool lamp, a comfy chair, anything that will help them look forward to using the space. Having a designated homework zone establishes a routine and signals to your child that it’s time to focus and get work done.
4. Establish a routine
A consistent routine is key. Start
WOMEN’S WELLNESS
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 calcium 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
adjusting your child’s sleep schedule at least a week before school starts to ensure they are well-rested and ready to learn. Establish a morning routine that includes enough time for breakfast, hygiene, getting dressed, organizing their backpack and getting out the door with minimal stress. Similarly, create an after-school routine that incorporates time for homework, play and relaxation. Pro tip: Many morning routine items can be handled the night before to make mornings even smoother (packing lunches, organizing backpacks, laying out clothes, etc.).
5. Health and nutrition
It’s that time of year for wellness checks, which can bring anxiety if vaccinations are involved. Creating a fun tradition around checkups can be a great way to mark the upcoming school year. My family likes to make a trip to our favorite local bookstore, e Bookies, to pick out a book after our appointment. And ice cream, always ice cream. Since everything is about balance, this can also be a great time to brainstorm a list of nutritious meals and snacks your kids would like to eat. Don’t forget to
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 lowfat dairy products, broccoli, salmon, sardines, bread, orange juice and ce-
emphasize the importance of staying hydrated and packing a water bottle.
6. So many big feelings e start of a new school year can bring a mix of emotions. Be sure to create opportunities for your child to share their feelings by asking questions about concerns or anxieties they may have. Encourage positive energy by focusing on the exciting prospects of the new school year, such as extracurricular activities, new subjects and seeing friends. I’ve also found it helpful to share the worries I had at their age or embarrassing stories (there are plenty) to nd common ground and humor in worries that are totally normal.
7. Get involved is doesn’t mean being at school every day, but being engaged to show your child you are supportive of their experience is important. Attend orientation sessions, meet teachers and familiarize yourself with the school’s policies and expectations. Establish a communication line with your child’s teachers to stay informed about their progress and any areas that may need
reals. 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.
attention. Volunteering at school can also provide insights into your child’s school life and help build a supportive community.
8. Technology and tools Technology plays a signi cant role in education, which can make life both easier and harder at the same time. Make sure your child has access to the necessary devices and learning tools, such as a computer or tablet, internet access and any required software or apps. Set up parental controls and discuss responsible use of technology, emphasizing the importance of balancing screen time with other activities. Preparing for the school year involves more than just shopping for supplies and clothes. It’s about setting the stage for a successful and enjoyable year, for everyone. So cheers to getting back into a routine, nding calm in the chaos and enjoying all the moments with your littles during these years.
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway are Denver residents and co-founders of TULA Life Balanced. Learn more about their business at tulabalanced.com.
Last month’s newspaper incorrectly stated the amount of a grant that e Master’s Apprentice received from the Lowes Foundation. e correct amount is $930,000.
Dr. Terry Dunn
BY DAVID DUFFIELD, COLORADO LGBTQ HISTORY PROJECT
e Tick Tock Lounge opened in the 1960s at 1512 Broadway. Before 1960, the bar operated like many others in Denver with an easy going crowd by day and a nighttime scene re ecting gritty surroundings at Colfax and Broadway.
Across the street, on the 1500 block of Broadway, sat lesbian-owned Alicia’s Cafe as well as Mary’s Tavern, which was black listed by the military during WWII for “homosexual” behavior.
Drag was e ectively banned in Denver from 1954 to 1974, though brie y in 1964 a drag troupe known as the Turnabout Revue brokered a deal with Denver to open its own nightclub. e Gilded Cage operated at 13th and Lawrence on what is today the Auraria Campus.
e Tick Tock hosted drag every year on Halloween, an occasion exempt from the ban. It hosted drag other times during the year, though it was raided several times in the 1960s. is photograph was taken in 1969 during the Halloween gala costume ball at the Tick Tock. Beyond the bartender and Bonnie Johannes, the camera captured a candid view of LGBTQ life in 1960s Denver. Bar patrons were a racially and gender diverse all-ages crowd stacked into a space barely 100 feet by 35 feet.
Just four months after the Stonewall Uprising in New York’s Greenwich Village, the photograph reveals both elegance and controversy. And it records a world that went on to change dramatically, when by 1974 the ban on drag was thrown out as a result of activism by a group called the Gay Coalition of Denver.
Bonnie Johannes and unknown bartender, October 1969 at the Tick Tock Lounge. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL OLSON AND COLORADO LGBTQ HISTORY PROJECT AT THE CENTER ON COLFAX
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance takes unique approach to enrichment
BY NATALIE KERR
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The 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
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
“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.
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 di erent types of enrichment to elicit those behaviors, and then we document and evaluate whether or not that enrichment was e ective.”
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.
Observant orangutans watch for the magician’s next sleight of hand maneuver. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF STONIC
climbing
ZOO PROGRAM
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
BIODIVERSITY
Native plants in urban gardens provide wide ranging bene ts, from improving the mental and physical health of community members through consistent access to nature, to providing habitat and food for pollinators, which in turn, provides for bigger animals like birds and squirrels. Urban green spaces such as the ones Plant an Oasis creates also help reduce water use by increasing storm water retention, and they provide
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 bene cial for pets at home, Genter added. New toys or activities can be helpful in counteracting the mental and
relief from the urban heat island e ect where more densely populated areas experience a higher degree of heat.
Native plant rewilding brings back plants that were growing in the area long before Denver was established.
“In a highly arti cial urban environment, to have wild spaces that make it possible for people to have their own little bit of nature in their front yard is a transformative experience,” Stopper said. “In Denver, everyone gets in their cars or hops on a bus to get into the mountains to access nature. What’s remarkable about this is it’s possible to have your own little bit of nature when
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.”
you step outside your front door.” e organization attempts to make its projects nancially accessible to as many people as possible. To keep costs at a fraction of traditional landscaping, Plant an Oasis focuses on the West Washington Park neighborhood, with a few projects on the periphery.
“What the project aspires to be in the long term is a massive city-scale rewilding project,” Stopper said. “We’re developing a model that can be replicated in other geographies in the city.”
To get involved with Plant an Oasis, visit www. plantanoasis.org.
Denver magician Gerald Robinson makes a pencil “disappear” for orangutans at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF STONIC
BY ALLEN COWGILL
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A disproportionate number of Denver’s most serious and fatal crashes happen along Alameda Boulevard. And the section of Alameda within a few blocks east and west of Downing Street are among the most dangerous in the city, with a crash rate almost seven times higher than the average Denver arterial street.
Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) wants to decrease that rate by reducing speeding along Alameda, as well as Federal Boulevard, through a pilot program aimed at reducing crash deaths on the two streets in what has become known as Denver’s high-injury network.
e move comes after several record years of tra c-crash deaths, including 2023, when 83 people were killed in crashes on Denver streets. e city recently doubled down on its Vision Zero by 2030 goal of decreasing tra c deaths to zero.
“Building a safe and vibrant Denver means improving tra c safety by reducing speeds on Denver roads,” Mayor Mike Johnston said. “I’m proud to roll out our new pilot program that coordinates evidencebased actions that are shown to re-
duce speeds and reduce deaths.”
A DOTI report found that speed was the biggest factor in fatal and serious injury crashes, thus the pilot program will focus on reducing the number of drivers choosing to speed.
At 40 mph, a pedestrian struck by a driver has a 73% chance of a serious or fatal injury. By reducing the speed of a car to 30 mph, that same pedestrian now has a 40% chance of a serious or fatal injury. e posted speed limit for the stretch of Alameda Boulevard near Downing Street is 30 mph.
DOTI will be taking a multilayer approach to reduce speeding. For starters, it wants to give drivers a chance to slow down on their own before it starts issuing speeding tickets. It’ll post additional speed limit signs, add the type of speed feedback signs that tell drivers what speed they are going, and implement a marketing program warning drivers to slow down.
In addition, tra c signals will be retimed so that drivers going the speed limit will be rewarded with more green lights. And since more than half of fatal crashes happen at night, signals will be set to “rest in red” until a car arrives to prevent excessive speeding at night. Tra c signals will also be set to give pedestrians a head start of a few seconds, which allows
people walking in the crosswalk to be more visible to drivers, thus reducing the risk of a collision.
DOTI will also utilize automated speed limit enforcement methods on the corridor, including camera vans and a pilot speed enforcement camera program.
DOTI said similar e orts on West Colfax between Sheridan and Irving Street resulted in a 71% decrease in fatal crashes in recent years. e announcement of the pilot program came alongside a new citywide policy aimed at safer streets. In a press release, DOTI said that it is “con rming the department’s commitment to safety rst in the design and operation of city streets,
emphasizing lower speeds, safer pedestrian and bicycle crossings and improving the experience for people taking transit at all times of day with safe, comfortable and accessible transit stops.”
e new policy is not only a topdown emphasis on safety by DOTI Executive Director Amy Ford, but also highlights a handful of shortterm goals including safer school zones, improving the high-injury streets where most crashes happen and a focus on investing in underserved communities.
Allen Cowgill is the City Council District 1 appointee to the DOTI Advisory Board, where he serves as the board co-chair.
Cars traveling on Alameda Boulevard at Downing Street, a section of Alameda where the crash rate is nearly seven times the average Denver arterial street. E orts to reduce speeding and tra c fatalities are coming to drivers on Alameda.
PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE
BY JACQUI SOMEN
SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Culture is something that is created by people, and there are few things the people of Denver love more than beer.
Denver breweries aren’t just for sipping your favorite local beer, they’re great places to enjoy cultural events. Live music at Denver’s breweries is the status quo: On any given night or weekend day, you can catch live music at breweries like Zuni Street Brewing Company, Black Shirt Brewing Co. and Breckenridge Brewery.
Now, many taprooms provide a lesser-known adventure, serving as cultural hubs for Denver residents to share and experience art, music, crafts and literature.
One place that exempli es the
brewery as a vibrant cultural hub is Raíces Brewing Co. Located just south of Empower Field, Raíces is built on what the brewery describes as its three pillars: comunidad, cultura and cerveza (community, culture and beer), and everything the taproom does revolves around these tenets.
In the last few weeks, you could celebrate Argentina’s anniversary with tango, purchase wares from Venezuelan jewelry artisans and enjoy live traditional Cuban music. Raíces also hosts a galleria displaying artists year-round and features artisans every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
At e Lodge at Woods Boss Brewing, you can catch compelling arts events like the Denver Fringe Festival, an annual performance arts festival that “supports inde-
PRECISE REPAIR, GENUINE CARE
pendent artists and diverse voices in all genres of the performing arts.” During the 2024 event in June, festival-goers could partake of cabaret, comedy and puppet shows at e Lodge. e space also hosts SoFar Sounds, intimate events spotlighting local musicians. Woods Boss Brewing’s Five Points taproom hosts free live Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz shows on the fourth Saturday of each month.
At Fiction Beer Bar, literature lovers can attend a monthly book club while sipping brews named after literary works like Madame Psychosis, a New England pale ale inspired by David Foster Wallace’s novel “In nite Jest.” is year, the group pored over books such as “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt and “Under the Whispering Door” by TJ Klune. e book
club is usually hosted on the third Monday of the month.
While Fort Greene Bar isn’t exactly a brewery, it is a local bar serving a range of cocktails, wine and, yes, beer selections—from Miller High Life to TRVE’s Siren Saison. Fort Greene hosts one of the city’s most intriguing literary events.
Reading Den is a monthly reading series co-founded by Adam Vitcavage and Sarah Ann Noel that runs on the last Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. e evening features readings from four writers, many of whom are local, and presents attendees the opportunity to meet and mingle.
“It’s like storytime for grown-ups,” Noel said, “with high-caliber writing, amazing cocktails, a gorgeous setting, and a group of people there to meet, chat, share.”
BY KATHRYN WHITE KATHRYN@COTLN.ORG
On July 15, Denver City Council unanimously voted in council member Amanda P. Sandoval, of northwest Denver’s District 1, as its next president.
Sandoval, who was elected to council in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, served as council president pro-tem prior to the July 15 vote. She took the gavel from District 3 council member Jamie Torres, who was elected to council in 2109.
Prior to handing over the gavel, Torres thanked her sta and family, and described some of the accomplishments she felt proud of from her tenure.
“As president of council, it has been a huge source of pride that we were able to pass the civil wage theft bill. To
watch for the rst full year of wage recovery to give back over 2 million dollars,” Torres said.
Torres went on to highlight the passage of the West Area Plan for its focus on quality of life and water, and then to recognize the recently launched South Platte River committee.
“And that I could begin the work to bring dignity, safety and a future to mobile home parks in Denver,” Torres continued, “and the families who call them home.”
Torres concluded her remarks with a quote from Octavia E. Butler’s 1993 novel “Parable of the Sower.”
“All that you touch you change. All that you change changes you. e only lasting truth is change.”
“If anything, the past several years on city council have taught us that adaptability, stewarded by love of community, will be our greatest skill
to serve the city well,” Torres said. “No matter what comes our way, change not only happens, but it is necessary. And I’m proud to serve in the city and with this body as we navigate a dramatically changing world.”
After receiving the gavel, Sandoval thanked her colleagues, acknowledging Torres for her leadership, kindness and dedication. She thanked mentors and members of her family – each with a personal message. She acknowledged that she felt the presence of her late father Paul Sandoval, who represented north Denver in the state legislature, and died 12 years ago.
“I am so proud to represent the neighborhood I was born and raised in. It has truly been a dream come true. So, to the residents of northwest Denver, thank you for your love and support. And it is an immense honor to support you and represent you.”
trict 4, was elected to serve as council president pro-tem. As president protem, Romero Campbell will serve as president, when needed, when Council President Sandoval is unavailable.
Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. COURTESY OF DENVERGOV.ORG
