Washington Park Profile August 2024 by Colorado Community Media

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-

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.”

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

Customers line up to enjoy

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-

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.

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

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.

West Washington Park Neighborhood Association 3rd Annual Neighborhood and Garden Tour Saturday, Sept 7th, 2024, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Start at the corner of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Free! Self guided! No tickets needed!

Visit displays of our community’s history in front of homes & businesses telling the stories of the buildings and the people that used to live here.

Learn how to attract pollinators and birds, while reducing water bills and the use of toxic chemicals, with native/xeriscape plants. Colorado Master Gardeners will be on hand to give advice.

Enjoy fun activities: a to-scale solar system walk, a scavenger hunt, and a solar cookers demo (weather permitting).

Want your home, business, or garden to be a tour location? We o er free help researching your home or building’s history. We’ll even help create your history or garden display!

Washington Park turns 125 years old this year and neighbors and fans have a daylong party planned for the iconic civic space.

Story on page 6.

PHOTO BY JAMES SCHOEDLER

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

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 local rewilding project has created jobs for refugees through a collaboration with the African Community Center

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 coffee 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 a ectionately 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 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.

Winner of four Israeli Academy Awards now dubbed in English

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 constructs 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 lowimpact gardening, relying on me-

chanically powered tools only when necessary, and rarely moving soil and rocks overturned in the gardening process.

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.

Congregation will host a screening of the Israeli lm “Legend of Destruction.”

Winner of four 2021 Ophir Awards (Israeli Academy Awards), the lm by Gidi Dar details events surrounding the fall of the Second Temple in 70

CE, a pivotal event in Jewish history. e lm, set during Roman rule, portrays a society plagued by social inequalities, corruption and injustice, and where a fervent cry for freedom, justice, and equality swept throughout the Holy Land. e lm

explores themes of greed, exploitation, corruption, political hubris and religious fanaticism.

e free screening will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 13.

To register and for more information, visit bmh-bj.org.

Neighborhood volunteers take a break from their work in West Washington Park.

an event held in honor of the Jewish holiday Tisha B’Av, BMH-BJ

The beloved park turns 125 years young

BY KATHRYN WHITE KATHRYN@COTLN.ORG

A celebration like none other is planned for Washington Park Aug. 7.

Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park (FANS) has teamed up with Denver Parks and Recreation to host a free daylong jubilee featuring everything from face painting and a climbing wall to opportunities to explore historic buildings and signi cant trees in the iconic Denver park.

Since its inception in 1899, the 165-acre park has provided habitat, recreation, beauty and joy to countless people and animals.

Washington Park deserves a part and Denver is invited.

“Washington Park is among the magni cent assets that make the neighborhoods of District 6 such wonderful places for our families to call home,” said Councilman Paul Kashmann. “ rough world wars and economic collapse, pandemics and politics, Denverites have ocked to Wash Park for a blessed respite from the tensions of the day. Today, nearly one million visitors come to the park every year. Please join your neighbors in celebrating 125 years of fun in the park on Wednesday, Aug. 7.”

‘Washington Park is among the magniﬁcent assets that make the neighborhoods of District 6 such wonderful places for our families to call home.’

Councilman Paul Kashmann

‘Join Hand in Hand,’ by Joseph Freeouf, an entry in 15-18 year old category

Editor’s note: In honor of Washington Park’s 125th anniversary, Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park (FANS) solicited essays, like the one below, for an essay contest. Winners from the contest’s three age categories (8 to 14 years old, 15 to 18 years old, and adult) will be announced Aug. 7, 5 p.m., at the Washington Park Boat House Plaza. Stay tuned to our September edition for additional anniversary jubilee

My memories of Washington Park are vivid. e feelings of the warm breeze blowing through my hair on a summer Saturday afternoon. e smell of fresh cut grass and delicious barbecue permeating my nostrils. e wonderful sound of children, ages 6 to 96, playing. I am overwhelmed with nostalgia. I remember the times in which I too would frolic in the wide-open space, coming home with badges of grass stains and bruises. I remember the times when I would jump into the drifts of snow and make snow angels to my heart’s content. Most importantly, I remember the friends that I made in the park. ere is a uniqueness about children. ey do not care about the petty things that seem to trouble adults. ey do not care about the divisions and con icts which so embody the politics of America today. All that a child cares about is living life and having fun along the way. When I would play in the park as a kid, I did not see my playmates as enemies or rivals, regardless of their upbringing or appearance. I saw the other children who played at the park as fellow kids, kids who were united under one goal, enjoying themselves.

“Grasmere Early Spring,” an entry into the Washington Park 125th Anniversary Photo Contest.

PHOTO BY JAMES JACOBS

JUBILEE

line-up of events and activities – for all ages and interests – will run from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m.

Food trucks will be open during lunch and dinner hours, and a full

ESSAY

Such unity can be found throughout the park. Anyone who comes to visit the recreation area can see the uni cation of generation to generation when the crotchety old man teaches a young curious passerby how to catch a sh, race to race when the Mexican immigrant and Colorado raised African American joins in a game of basketball under the hot sun, and religion to religion as the Muslim and Christian come together to enjoy the beautiful weather. Regardless of division and strife the people of Denver unite with the same goals in mind, those of a child, to have fun and enjoy themselves.

When I ponder the question, “Why does Washington Park Matter,” I think of the much appreciated and needed unity in which the park itself stands for. e park has become a monument of what our forefathers have fought and died for. It represents the putting aside of di erences and the embracing

Tune in to our September edition, where we’ll share winning entries from the 125th anniversary essay and photography contests.

of our fellow brothers and sisters of America. It represents the constant reach and pursuit of the American dream in which the people of Colorado so desperately strive. It represents our endowed, unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Washington Park is where kids can have fun, teens can make friends, and parents can take a load o their feet. Washington Park is a place where American ideals of Unity can be fostered and grown in the hearts and minds of all who enjoy the park.

John Dickinson, the American revolutionary/founding father, wrote in his Liberty Song “ en join hand in hand, brave Americans all by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall” (Dickinson, lines 12-13). Washington Park matters because it helps us join hand in hand in unity. It creates an atmosphere where we do not let our differences and political views divide us, but rather let it grow us. It creates a place where we can be ourselves and yet still be one. May the park always stand as a testament to the freedom of America and the uni cation it provides.

And don’t forget to stop by the Boat House Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to cast your vote for grand prize from among the photo contest’s 10 nalists.

For more information, visit fanswashingtonpark.org.

Work cited: Editors, Alpha History. “ e Liberty Song (1768).” Alpha History, 8 Dec. 2022, alphahistory. com/americanrevolution/libertysong-1768/.

OPEN HOUSE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE HISTORIC SITES

10 a.m. to noon

Historic Dos Chappell Bathhouse

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado now makes this historic bathhouse its home (northwest edge of Smith Lake)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fire Station 21

First opened in 1924, the original Engine 21 ran out of the 1924 building until 1975 when a new station replaced it (Fire Station 21, Franklin and Virginia)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Eugene Field House

The former home of children’s poet Eugene Field was moved to Washington Park in 1927, with funding help from Molly Brown, and went on to become a library branch and now an o ce for park rangers (Eugene Field House, 715 S. Franklin St.)

SNAPSHOT OF THE DAY’S EVENTS

10 a.m.

Fun Walk with dog parade led by Denver South High School Drum Line

10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The nonproﬁt Cycling without Age provides a “wind in the hair” trishaw cycling experience for older adults

10:30 a.m.

Washington Park family photo by drone photographer

11 a.m.

Yoga with Garry Appel

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Crafts for kids

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Face Painting

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lawn bowling and croquet lessons

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public voting on photography contest

11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

History displays and photographs

Noon to 1:15 p.m.

The Joe Anderies Quartet

12:30-1:30 p.m.

History talk by noted historian Phil Goodstein, author of “The Haunts of Washington Park”

3-5 p.m.

• Fishing with park rangers

• Mount Vernon Garden scavenger hunt

• Tennis Clinics

4 p.m.

Walking tour of signiﬁcant trees led by Sonia John

5 p.m.

Remarks and announcement of essay and photography contest winners by Jolon Clark, executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation

6-8 p.m.

Wash Park Band

High-energy dance music from the 1970s on up to today’s Top 40 hits

For locations and complete schedule, visit fanswashingtonpark.org.

A muskrat converts pond plants into a meal in Washington Park.

PHOTO BY JAY WOZNY

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Phone: 303-566-4100

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Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Proﬁle.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to kathryn@cotln.org

Deadline

5 p.m. on the 20th of each month for the following month’s paper.

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

CORRECTION

LIFE BALANCED

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

As you gather 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-me-downs 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 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 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 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.

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

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

things such as a minor fall – or even sneezing or slight bumps, according to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. It’s always good to check with your family. Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk. Even if this condition doesn’t exist in your family, you could still be at risk as you

Dr. Terry Dunn SEE DUNN, P12

Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter

Thu. 9/5

Trace Bundy Fri. 9/6

Harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and more

Ruthie Foster Sun. 9/8

Tony Furtado

Pioneering singer-songwriter and acoustic musician

Cris Williamson Sat. 9/7

Renowned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sat. 9/14

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Virtuoso performer with rich, easygoing melodicism

Taylor Ashton Thu. 9/12

Exquisite vocals and gorgeous melodies from Hawaii Sun. 9/15

Darrell Scott

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 independent 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.

Books and beer may not be an obvious pairing, but Denverites are soaking up literary events at breweries.

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 host-

ed 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.”

In one way, cultural events are a way for a brewery to distinguish itself in a sea of similar establishments (Visit Denver estimates there are more than 70 breweries in Denver and more than 150 in the metro area).

In another, these events are simply a way to entertain and connect people who love music, books, and art and want to enjoy them over a delicious, locally brewed concoction.

Washington Park playwright’s

romantic comedy launches season

“Della Doucet” by Kirsten Dahl, winner of the 2023 Vintage New Play Festival, opens at the Vintage eatre in Aurora Aug. 23 as the rst play of the company’s 2024-2025 season.

“Della Doucet” follows Louisiana-born Della as she arrives in the gritty New York of 1981. On the run from her marriage to an o cer on a Southern military base, the 39-yearold wife and mother embraces punk rock, the East village art scene and romance without commitment.

“When I moved to New York City after college, I was astounded by the vivid, eccentric and often very funny people I met,” Dahl said.

“New York itself is like a play.”

Dahl’s name will be familiar to readers of the Washington Park Pro le for her coverage of a range of topics, including “sea monsters” lurking in the lakes of Washington Park, the harmonicists of the Mile High Harmonica Club and an “eat local” story about where the Denver Zoo’s gorillas get their favorite snack, hibiscus owers.

“Della Doucet” tells the story of a woman who needs to start over,” said Director Paul Jaquith in a press statement. “ is is a piece about nding the strength within yourself to begin again and follow your passion after tragedy. What empowering journey would be devoid of a little romance and comedy along the way?”

“Della Doucet” runs from Aug. 23 through Sept. 22. Tickets range from $20 to $37 with group rates available. Call 303-856-7830 or visit vintagetheatre.org for more information.

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance takes unique approach to enrichment

BY NATALIE KERR

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e commonalities between humans and other primates are extensive: Biology, opposable thumbs, lifespan — and a fascination with magic.

At least gorillas and orangutans at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance took a strong interest in magic tricks, when performed by local Denver magician Gerald Robinson. It was new for him too, performing without card tricks or using dialogue to add intrigue to the magic show, the magician said.

“I totally did prepare for this in a really weird way, because I’m like, what are apes going to understand? I can’t have them pick a card,” Robinson said. “I thought a lot of stu had to be very visual, and very much grounded in the sense of reality and our sights, smells, hearing.”

Experiences like this are part of DZCA’s behavioral husbandry program, which focuses on animal training and enrichment. Zoo sta employ stimuli, like toys, perfumes and spices, food, climbing apparati and more to keep the animals mentally and physically active, said Heather Genter, behavioral husbandry manager.

More than a game

Activities set out to trigger behaviors seen in animals’ natural environments, said Animal Care Specialist Christa Klein. If an animal typically has to hunt for their food, the enrichment program focuses on motivating them to use critical thinking, strength or dexterity to get to a snack.

“It’s very valuable for them to spend that time, we want to try to have them mimic what they would do in their natural habitats, so if they’re going to spend a lot of time nding food, it’s important for us to feed them doing the same thing here, so that their brain is constantly thinking about new things and we’re pre-

senting 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.

One mother and young infant sat several feet back, with the protective mother watching out of the corner of her eye, Klein said. at was a comfortable way for them to participate

without becoming unnerved by the new person and experience.

But animals at the zoo are encouraged to try new things to build their resilience, Genter said. If an animal is hesitant to participate in an enrichment activity, sta may ease them into it by placing the stimulus at a distance, or by playing new sounds quietly.

“We can’t always plan for all of the activity that happens in and around the zoo,” Genter said. “We try to acclimate our animals as best as possible.” is kind of activity can be benecial for pets at home, Genter added. New toys or activities can be helpful in counteracting the mental and physical impact of leaving pets alone while on vacation or at work.

Animals that are acting out, for example by clawing or chewing furniture, might be showing signs that they need more stimulation and care, she said.

“I think I have one of the best jobs at the zoo, I mean, who else gets paid to buy thousands of dollars of toys every day?” Genter said. “I’m very fortunate this is my job and that I get to work in this area, but what’s important to know is that it is critical for every animal’s care.”

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 reduce 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.

DUNN

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.

grab on bars, or by adding more lighting so it’s easy to see potential trip hazards.

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 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.

• Good nutrition. Incorporate foods and ingredients that can help ght the onset of osteoporosis. Foods that are calcium friendly include low-fat dairy products, broccoli, salmon, sardines, bread, orange juice and cereals. Foods to help boost vitamin D include fatty sh, egg yolks, liver and mushrooms.

• 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,

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.

FROM PAGE 7

As a mystery fan, I love nding a new series that I enjoy. I can still remember how happy I was to discover “ e Crossing Places” by Elly Gri th, which is the rst title in the Ruth Galloway series. e series started publication in the U.S. in 2010 and now consists of fteen novels. Gri ths is a terri c writer with a strong sense of place. England’s Norfolk coast, where the series takes place, is like another character in the book. ough these are mystery novels, they go well beyond the puzzle mystery and are lled with vibrant characters with engaging relationships that change and evolve over time. ese books are a true joy to read, and clever dialogue makes this series even better.

“ e Crossing Places” introduces us to Dr. Ruth Galloway, a professor and forensic anthropologist with a messy personal life and some interesting friends, including a modern druid named Cathbad. Cathbad is an oddball and deep thinker who is one of my favorite characters. Ruth gets initiated into the world of detection and crime solving when local police detective DCI Harry Nelson asks her to identify some bones for him. Ruth is a fantastic character to build a series around. She is strong, smart, kind, independent and funny. Harry, on the other hand, is bombastic and old-fashioned in many ways. e testy relationship between Ruth and Harry is complex, evolving and often hilarious. Even better, the bond between Ruth and Harry argues for a world that contains people who have di erent backgrounds and ideas and can constantly disagree while still

continuing to work together and respect each other.

In “ e Crossing Places,” Ruth and Harry are forced to revisit painful memories from the past while working together to nd a lost child named Scarlet Henderson. A missing persons case reopens speculation about an older case of Harry’s, in which a missing girl named Lucy Downey was never found. Harry is haunted by the fact that he never found Lucy. Ruth is swamped with memories of a student archeological dig she was a part of at the time Lucy disappeared. e dig was led by a charismatic professor who was deeply immersed in Norse beliefs and practices. e two storylines involving Harry and Ruth begin to intertwine in a sinister fashion, and many secrets are revealed as the investigation progresses. I can’t recommend “ e Crossing Places” and the books that follow it highly enough. e entire Ruth Galloway series and other books by Elly Gri ths are available at Denver Public Library, so check one out soon.

Summer of Adventure at Denver Public Library runs until Aug. 10. Join the fun at your local library branch or at summerofadventure.org.

Janet is a librarian at Virginia Village Branch Library. She loves walking, hiking and being in nature. She also likes reading, thinking and talking about books.

CHECK IT OUT

Janet Quinn

BY ERICH JEGIER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Denver Public Schools Board of Education concluded a busy academic year with its June 13 meeting.

e board met at the Emily Gri th Campus in downtown Denver to discuss several important topics.

New school closure policy

e board unanimously passed Executive Limitation 18, giving the superintendent guardrails for proposing school consolidations and

closures. Such a policy was deemed necessary due to the nancial impacts of declining district enrollment.

e policy requires that any proposal made by the superintendent “equitably distributes the e ects of changing demographics across the district, maximizes student resources and opportunities, and follows state statutes for closure based on governance type.”

e board had been discussing and re ning Executive Limitation 18 for more than a year, and the June meeting o ered one last opportunity

to discuss and vote on amendments. Notably, the board voted 4-3 that test scores and school performance ratings should not be used as a sole condition for school consolidations or closures, but can be used as part of a larger set of considerations.

Updated discipline matrix

e board reviewed DPS’s updated discipline matrix, a sta guideline for determining disciplinary action in response to student behavioral issues.

“ ere are many things we can do to support students that are preventative,” said Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. “ e matrix is for responding.”

Moira Coogan, principal at North High School Engagement Center, said the new matrix focuses on “naming conducts with more speci city,” which she said will be helpful for issues that range broadly in severity, like ghting and technology misuse.

DPS Deputy Chief of Sta Deborah Staten noted that homicide was added as a behavior category, saying it was “a reality for an urban school district.” e new matrix has another key goal.

“Our Black students are out-ofschool suspended at a disproportionately high rate,” said Ike Ogbuike, program manager of the district’s Central Discipline Team. e Colorado Department of Education has agged DPS as a result and is now monitoring DPS discipline metrics. e discipline matrix does not require board approval. It will be rolled out to DPS leadership in July and to teachers and sta in August.

Bond proposal

Committee chairs for the 2024 Community Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC) presented the board with a $975 million bond proposal to fund facility updates and other investments it deemed high priority. DPS sta identi ed $2.3 billion in district needs, and the 72-member CPAC formed to prioritize those needs on behalf of the district community.

A breakdown of the bond proposal is as follows:

• $301M for critical maintenance

• $240M to install air conditioning

• $127M for arts, athletics and innovation

• $124M for new facilities, expansions and transportation eet

• $100M for learning environment enhancements

• $83M for safety and technology Board members thanked CPAC for being student-centered and for engaging in di cult conversations in a way that allowed everyone’s voice to be heard. A teacher who attended one of the subcommittee meetings for public comment told Board President Carrie Olson that she was overcome with emotion on her drive home because she truly felt the committee had listened to her.

e board will vote on the bond proposal Aug. 29 during their rst meeting of the new academic year. If the board vote passes it, the proposal will go to Denver voters on Election Day, Nov. 5.

Get involved

e DPS board encourages the community to get involved. Regular board meetings are held on the third ursday of each month and are open to the public both in-person and virtually. e board’s schedule, agendas, presentation materials, minutes and video recordings of meetings are all published on its website at dpsk12.org/page/boardof-education.

CPAC subcommittee chairs present a $975 million bond proposal to the board at the June 13 regular board meeting.

PHOTO BY ERICH JEGIER

Stipends are meant to help address teacher shortage

BY MELANIE ASMAR CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado is seeking new applicants for a program that aims to address Colorado’s teacher shortage by providing stipends of up to $10,000 to educators teaching under alternative licenses while earning degrees.

Called the Educator Recruitment and Retention Financial Assistance Program, the program began in the 2021-22 school year with 80 educators, who agreed to work in rural school districts for three years as a condition of receiving the stipend.

In 2022, state lawmakers expanded the program to include educators all over Colorado, not just in rural districts. Participation exploded to 749 educators in 2022-23 and held fairly steady this past school year with an uno cial count of about 700 educators, according to a Colorado Department of Education spokesperson.

Colorado is seeking new applicants for a program that aims to address Colorado’s teacher shortage by

providing stipends of up to $10,000 to educators teaching under alternative licenses while earning degrees.

Nearly a quarter of the 749 educators who got the stipend in 2022-23 were educators of color, according to a state report. Just 16% of Colorado’s educators are people of color, according to state data. at means that in addition to tackling Colorado’s educator shortage, the program could address another long-standing issue by helping to diversify Colorado’s teacher workforce.

To qualify for the stipend of up to $10,000, applicants must be enrolled in an approved traditional or alternative educator preparation program. e stipend must be spent on that program. Applicants must also meet one of these criteria:

• Have earned a bachelor’s de-

gree or higher and been hired as an alternative or temporarily eligible teacher in a subject where there’s a teacher shortage. e list of teacher shortage areas is long and includes special education, elementary education, math, and science.

• Work as a paraprofessional in a school district, charter school, or BOCES.

• Been hired as a career and technical education instructor in a rural district.

e application process is open now through Sept. 30. e stipends are given out on a rst-come, rst-served basis. e state will open a second round of applications on Dec. 2.

In 2022-23, nearly a quarter of the 749 educators who got the stipends worked in special education, while another 23% worked in elementary education, according to state data. e next three most popular teaching subjects were English, science, and math.

e stipend recipients worked all over Colorado, in 138 of the state’s 178 school districts, according to the report.

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

Public comment sessions are held at 4:30 p.m. on the Monday prior to a regular board meeting and are the community’s opportunity to speak directly to the board. Speakers have three minutes to deliver their remarks, and the session lasts two hours. Sign-up for public comment is available online starting at 9 a.m. on Monday the week before the session and closes when the two-hour limit has been reached.

Community members looking for greater involvement with the district have several options:

• DPS 101: A Community Leader-

ship Course is o ered by Superintendent Marrero to teach DPS community members “the inner workings of DPS departments, structures and systems.” e course is collaborative in nature and consists of monthly two-hour sessions from October to April. To apply visit thecommons. dpsk12.org/Page/3456.

• e District Accountability Committee (DAC) accepts applications each spring. DAC is mandated by state law and includes subcommittees for budget, family and community engagement, and performance.

• A bond oversight committee will be formed if the proposed 2024 bond passes. Visit dpsk12.org to learn more and stay tuned to this newspaper for ongoing education coverage.

Mike Johnston reﬂects on ﬁrst year as Denver mayor

BY ISABEL GUZMAN

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Two issues to sum up Mike Johnston’s rst year as Denver mayor are homeless encampments and migrants. His rst year was marked by sweeps of the former and managing tens of thousands of unexpected immigrant arrivals.

In a year, Johnston reports progress. Denver has sheltered 1,600 people living on the streets, part of an initiative that has declared homelessness a state of emergency for the city. By the end of this year, Johnston aims to up the number of people housed to 2,000.

Also, in his rst year, Johnston has addressed an in ux of 30,000 migrants, many from Venezuela, he said during his State of the City address in July.

Despite challenges, Johnston continues to love his role.

“ e bene t is you can have a real impact on things that matter in people’s lives every day as a mayor,” he said.

Johnston spoke a few days after his address in a conversation that touched on the above issues and more, including crime, anti-war demonstrations on the Auraria campus and the local economy. e interview below has been slightly edited for context and clarity.

Question: What haven’t you accomplished yet that you thought you would have by now?

Johnston: So, our shootings and murders are down about 30% already this year. ose are things we really wanted to accomplish and we are making progress but are never done.

We still want to focus on the broader challenge around a ordable housing in Denver. We know that housing is the single most expensive thing for families and more and more families are getting pushed out of the city because they can’t a ord to stay. is is why we focus so much energy on this opportunity for a ballot measure this November that would allow us to

bring in the resources we need to actually bring on the number of affordable housing units.

Context: Johnston’s administration has proposed raising Denver’s sales tax by 0.5% to raise $100 million annually to help pay for a ordable housing projects, according to e Denver Post. e proposal would raise the city’s overall tax rate from 8.81% to 9.65%. City Council members halted the measure from moving further on Wednesday, July 24, saying that it lacked speci c details.

Q: How do you manage mayoral duties while also being a father and husband?

Johnston: e bene t is everything I do is within 10 miles of my house. And then a lot of the time, my kids will come to community events with me. We’ve been working parents through most of our careers, so my wife and I are a bit used to it.

Q: Earlier this year, pro-Palestinian protesters launched an encampment on the Auraria campus. You arrived hours after the ﬁrst arrests had been made to encourage protesters to take down the tents. What was going through your mind while you were there? Have you dealt with protests before?

Johnston: I’ve certainly dealt with protesters before. I was a school principal and I had students who would

thing to do is to go and listen, gure out what people want and wherever they may be common ground.

Actually, I brought my daughter with me on that visit to the Auraria encampment. And so I thought I should just go and listen. I got to talk to the university presidents and get all their feedback to see how we could work together. I think that in the end of that, we came to a really great resolution that I credit the Auraria campus for.

A lot of campuses had much more di cult, much more violent, much more divisive events. I thought it turned out to be a place where people listened to each other and got to a resolution that both sides I think felt good about and that’s a credit to them.

We’re very proud of the fact that we have had peaceful protests in Denver almost every week since October. ey’ve been productive. People have been heard and we’ve carried on our business throughout the city.

Context: e pro-Palestinian encampment lasted nearly a month on the Auraria campus before protestors voluntarily dispersed on May 17. e day after the encampment began, about 40 arrests were made by Denver police of protestors who refused to leave. Later that day, Johnston arrived on campus to meet with police and university o cials and asked protestors to take tents down, per campus policy.

‘The beneﬁt is you can have a real impact on things that matter in people’s lives every day as a mayor.’

Mike Johnson, Denver Mayor

On May 18, one of the protest organizers, Denver Students for a Democratic Society, said in a statement that the encampment stood as a testament to the strength and determination of students to support Palestinian liberation. On the same day, Auraria Campus of Higher Education said, “We hope this will end more than three weeks of unauthorized occupation that has increasingly escalated into dangerous activities, taken signi cant time, resources, and dialogue with student protesters to resolve, and has pulled us away from our academic mission and goals.”

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston delivers his State of the City Address at the Paramount Theatre in Denver on July 22, 2024. PHOTO BY ISABEL GUZMAN

BY MARY LOU EGAN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Nearly every Catholic parish holds a bazaar during the summer months to raise money for operating expenses throughout the year.

But the parishes in north Denver and Globeville o er an invitation to share the heritage of their immigrant founders. If you attend any of these celebrations, peek inside these historic churches: the stained glass windows, altars, statues and stations of the cross are a tribute to the devotion of the immigrant founders.

Potenza Lodge and the Feast of St. Rocco

Aug. 16-17, 5-10 p.m.

Aug. 18, Mass at 11 a.m., festival 4-9 p.m.

Societa Nativi di Potenza Basilicata, more commonly known as the Potenza Lodge, was founded in Denver on Oct. 14, 1899, by immigrants from Potenza, Italy. e society helped newcomers nd jobs and housing, and provided support to strangers as they adjusted to life in their new environment.

Today, the society is committed to keeping Italian traditions alive with the yearly celebration of the Feast of St. Rocco, a lively commemoration of

the patron saint of the city of Potenza. e festival starts at Potenza Hall, 38th Avenue and Shoshone, with Italian sausage and meatball sandwiches, pizzelles, desserts, beer, wine, games, ra es and music.

Sunday is the big celebration with the procession. Bidding for the privilege of carrying the statue of St. Rocco begins following the 11 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 3549 Navajo St. Immediately following the bidding, there will be a procession of the statue and Papal ag through the streets surrounding the church.

Kraljica sv. Roznega Venca, Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish Festival

Aug. 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Holy Rosary Parish at 4688 Pearl St. was founded by Slovenian and Croatian immigrants, and dedicated in 1920. e exquisite windows and statues bear plaques featuring the names of their Slavic donors. As the original ethnic groups moved up the economic ladder, they moved out and a predominantly Hispanic population settled in the neighborhood. Today’s Hispanic parishioners share the working-class background and robust faith of their predecessors.

Enjoy amazing tacos, autas, enchiladas, churros, hot dogs, ham-

You won’t be able to sit still while these gentlemen perform.

burgers, sodas, ice cream, snacks and desserts. In a nod to the Slavic founders, there will be some potica and pizzelles for sale. Games for the kids, entertainment, musical performances, ra es and prizes will keep everyone entertained.

St. Joseph’s Polish Roman Catholic Church

Aug. 24, noon to 9 p.m.

Aug. 25, noon to 5 p.m.

From I-70 you can see the red spire of St. Joseph’s Polish Roman

Catholic Church at 517 E. 46th Ave. Since its founding in 1902, the parish has been a bastion of Polish culture, and you can experience it at the Polish Food Festival. Celebrate all things Polish: Polish craft brews, kiełbasa, potato pancakes, cabbage rolls, pierogi, kraut and Polish pastries. Krakowiacy Polish Dancers will perform traditional Polish dances, and the Amber Band and DJ SKI will provide dance music. Treat yourself to Denver’s best Polish celebration.

COURTESY OF MARY LOU EGAN

Urban green spaces such as the ones Plant an Oasis creates also help reduce water use by increasing storm water retention, and they provide 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 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.

SEE YOURSELF ON STAGE

A volunteer presses fresh soil around a new planting during a Plant an Oasis work day. COURTESY OF PLANT AN OASIS

BY LONDON LYLE

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

It’s been about a year since six new members were sworn into Denver City Council, and it’s been an eventful one, according to four we spoke with.

Mayor Mike Johnston was sworn in on the same day as new council members last July. And the new mayor wasted no time getting his agenda o the ground, declaring a state of emergency on July 18, his second day in o ce, in an e ort to address the high number of people experiencing homelessness in the city.

Together, the 13 members of Denver City Council along with the Mayor have worked to balance the budget, create more a ordable housing and assist thousands of re-

cently arrived migrants who were living on the streets.

Helping migrants was one of second-term council member Amanda

P. Sandoval’s top priorities. Sandoval said she worked alongside volunteers and nonpro ts to make sure housing and aid were delivered to more than 300 migrants from an encampment on Zuni Street and 27th Avenue, an area that is part of Sandoval’s district in northwest Denver, District 1.

“ e encampment was one of the hardest things I’ve ever worked on professionally and emotionally,” she said. “I’m really proud of northwest Denver. I’m proud of how everyone showed up and helped out with the migrant crisis that Denver was experiencing.”

Sandoval, who was elected council president in July, played a piv-

PRECISE REPAIR, GENUINE CARE

otal role in arranging a land-swap between the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver and the city to lease the Mullen home on West 29th Avenue in order to house migrant families.

Council member Paul Kashmann, who has represented south Denver District 6 since 2015, is optimistic about the way the City Council has evolved over the past year.

“I think Council is getting younger. I think it’s getting more progressive. Leaving the age and the politics aside, we just have more people focused on that charter responsibility of crafting legislation,” he said. “ e job of a council member has evolved to be twofold. One is to pass laws. e other is to tend to your constituents’ concerns, be it barking dogs disturbing the neighborhood or someone’s gutter leaking into their basement.”

At-large council member Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez came on board at this time last year, but she’s no stranger to working as a legislator.

“It’s been a really interesting transition, coming in as a new council member and then diving right into the budget for 2024. Not only for council, but the mayor’s o ce too,” she re ected.

With a background working in the state House, she has prioritized modifying the budget in order to put money towards rental assistance. By working alongside her fellow council members and advocacy groups, Gonzales-Gutierrez helped pass a substantial budget amendment, increasing the city’s rental assistance budget from $12 million to $29.1 million.

Q: Did you ever attend protests in college?

Johnston: I did. I went to some of the early protests around the Iraq War and then there were issues on poverty, childcare and educational quality. I know this was a very volatile issue for which there were very strong feelings on both sides. Although, I would say it was not as mobilizing an issue at the time. ere is a real moment of activism now that I think the younger generation has really led. I think our job as educators or sometimes as mayors is to give people space to have those conversations and have them safely.

REFLECT

is was a notable feat, not just because Mayor Johnston pushed back, but also because all 13 council members favored the budget amendment, something of a rarity when it comes to a budget amendment that would more than double the amount originally proposed.

In March, council members went on a retreat where they focused on

Q: Is it challenging to represent all the diverse opinions and voices that make up Denver?

Johnston: One of the things I like about this job is that it’s a nonpartisan job. You don’t represent a party, you represent all of the people. e nice thing is there generally aren’t real partisan approaches to solving homelessness or public safety or a ordable housing. ey’re not necessarily political issues. ey’re pragmatic ones. I try to get as much direct feedback in person as opposed to from social media — social media can be a much di erent echo chamber. It’s not representative of where most of the city is. I try to do town halls and public events and I’ve done more than 100 now over the rst year. I think that’s the school principal in

creating a budget proposal for 2025 that would land on Mayor Johnston’s desk. e retreat was the rst of its kind, according to Sandoval, illustrating the level of urgency the Council was taking with the annual city process. In order to get the ball rolling on legislation, they rst had to make sure the city has the cash.

Government moves slower than those seeking big changes would like, said council member Darrell Watson. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, he added. For Watson, this means the Council is taking the necessary steps

me, I have a pretty thick skin so I don’t mind people being upset or giving me hard feedback. I’d rather know what they’re upset about and try to x it.

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e interview ended there, before we could ask about migrants. During his State of the City address, Johnston said Denver has housed the most people faster per capita than any city in the country over the past 12 months, “You will not see a single tent… in all of downtown Denver, because all those people who were living on these streets are now living indoors in dignity.”

e mayor concluded during the address, “Finding a way to reverse the economic impacts of a global pandemic on our city center is

instead of rushing things, when rushing could negatively impact the communities they serve.

“One thing that I’ve taken pause in and re ected on is the ability to pull together really smart legislative items and work collaboratively with my colleagues, community and the administration,” Watson said. e District 9 council member is working on eight pieces of legislation in his rst year, addressing concerns from tenant rights to banning the sale of avored tobacco products.

“You have to be willing to do the

hard, replacing cycles of violence with centers of joy is hard, living on the streets in a tent in a freezing Denver winter is hard, leaving everything you have and walking 3,000 miles with a nine-year-old to an unknown future is hard, and nding the resources and strategies to bring on enough housing to keep a growing city a ordable is hard, but if there is one thing we’ve learned in the past year, it is that the single hardest problem we will ever face, is the belief that we can’t solve these problems at all.”

is story runs via e Metropolitan, which is the student newspaper for Metropolitan State University of Denver. Isabel Guzman is the 2024 summer reporting intern for Colorado Community Media.

hard work. And it is hard work, the research, the writing of bills. None of this is fancy. None of this is sexy. But working for the city is a joy. And that’s why I’m so honored to be here on City Council. I’m looking forward to the next three years,” Watson said.

“ is job takes a lot of time, and a lot of listening,” Watson added.

As Denver City Council passed the one-year mark since being joined by six new members and Mayor Michael Johnston, it’s clear they aren’t slowing down.

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