Life On
March 2019 FREE
CAPITOL HILL
LOVE IS IN THE AIR Day of marriages leads to ‘full heart’
P6
EMPOWERING WOMEN Denver police teach women self-defense
P19
PICK UP THE PHONE
GETTING AN EYEFUL
P20
P16
To hear the weather, time or a story
Local artist paints people’s stories
A CHAT WITH DEGETTE
Congresswoman talks about issues
P8
2 Life On Capitol Hill
RETURNING SACRED TREASURES
Sheila Goff retires after a decade of working with Native Americans
“Each time we would have a repatriation and be able to return those repatriated items, all those times were very meaningful.” Sheila Goff
By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
F
Sheila Goff, center, receives a Bear Dance shawl from members of the Ute Indian tribes during a celebration for Written on the Land. Goff recently retired from History Colorado, where she worked with several tribes to return sacred artifacts. COURTESY OF HISTORY COLORADO
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or the last 11 years, Sheila Goff has spent her time combing through History Colorado’s Native American collection. As the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) liaison for the museum, it was her job to find, and eventually return, human remains and sacred items to their tribes. In addition to her NAGPRA role, Goff was also the curator of archeology and ethnography at History Colorado. After retiring from the museum in January, Goff reflected on a career on rebuilding relationships with Native American tribes in Colorado. Often, when museums like History Colorado began collecting artifacts from the tribes, they were taken by force or without permission, Goff said. In 1990, that all changed when NAGPRA was put into place. In addition to returning sacred items, the law established rules on the discovery of Native American funerary items and human remains so the artifacts cannot be taken without permission. Most of the items that Goff has helped return over the years were taken in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In her 11 years at History Colorado, Goff has returned more than 200 human remains, 300 funerary items and 200 unassociated items related to Native American burials, but not directly buried with someone. The process of returning artifacts to the tribes is known as repatriation. “Each time we would have a repatriation and be able to return those repatriated items, all those times were very meaningful,” she said. “It’s just very rewarding work to know that I helped facilitate the return of folks’ ancestors.” Goff has worked with 48 tribes, including the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho. But the process of getting artifacts and remains back to their rightful owners can be lengthy, Goff said. Staffs at museums need to go through a collection and identify if any of the items fall under the NAGPRA law. Some artifacts, such as human remains, are more obvious. But others may be linked to sacred burial rights without museum staff realizing it. This is where the tribes come in. First, museum staff identify the tribe that the artifact comes from, Goff said. She then
invites the tribe to come in and consult with the museum to see if items in the collection are related to any sacred rituals. “The ability to identify those is done in consultation,” Goff said. “The real experts for those is the tribal representatives.” After those artifacts have been identified, there’s a pile of paperwork on the federal level, as well as with the museum and tribes. Then the items can go home. Working at the museum was Goff ’s second career. She became interested in archeology and got her second master’s degree in museum and field studies from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 2002. She began working on returning artifacts to Native American tribes while still in school. In 2007, Goff joined History Colorado. The museum celebrated her career and retirement during the opening party of the Written on the Land exhibit in early January. Her last day at the museum was Jan. 15. Written on the Land is an exhibit celebrating the three Ute tribes and their roots as some of Colorado’s earliest citizens. It was one of Goff ’s final projects. While curating the exhibit, History Colorado worked with 30 representatives from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. Ernest House Jr., senior policy director of Keystone Policy Center and former executive director of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, was one of the representatives working with the museum. He is grateful for Goff ’s part in telling the story of Native American tribes, he said. “Sheila helped our voices and perspectives get heard. And, in doing so, she has moved us closer to ensuring that Native American History is our shared history,” said House in a release from the museum. “We are eternally grateful for her leadership and for History Colorado’s never-ending collaboration and storytelling with our tribes. There will always be so much more to learn and understand about our traditions and our future.” Learning about the cultures of the tribes has also influenced her own life. Goff said she loved learning about how connected tribes are to the land. Family knowledge is also key. Now that she’s retired, Goff hopes to do some investigating into her own family past. Fostering relationships with Colorado tribes has been important to Goff. Engaging with the Utes has lead to more meaningful collaboration, she said. “The relationships that were built to do this kind of work,” she said, “spills over in a positive manner.”
Life On Capitol Hill 3
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4 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
Homeless job program on Colfax to offer housing sible for graffiti removal, trash cleanup, litter and sticker removal within the BID boundaries, the release said. The Colfax Ave BID is located from Grant to Josephine streets and between 14th and 16th avenues. Colfax Works continued into 2019 with funding from Denver Human Services. Ready to Work is a program run by Bridge House, a Boulder-based nonprofit that creates programs and services for the homeless. Participants in Colfax Works will receive case management from Ready to Work and
Staff Report In a new partnership with Ready to Work, the Colfax Works program will expand into offering transitional housing and case management support for working crews, according to a news release from the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District (BID). The BID launched the Colfax Works program as a three-month pilot last summer. The program offers maintenance jobs for homeless individuals. The crews are respon-
will be able to live in dormitory housing. After one year in the program, they can graduate into mainstream jobs and permanent housing. “Our mission is to transform lives of people experiencing homelessness through the power of work while improving the community,” said Isabel McDevitt, CEO of Ready to Work and its parent organization, Bridge House, in the release. “This partnership to help keep Colfax clean and thriving while creating jobs for our Ready to Work trainees
is a true win/win for our organization.” Colfax BID staff are hoping that permanent job opportunities will come from the businesses within the area. “We saw fantastic support from the business community during the pilot project,” said Michelle Valeri, communications and programs director for the Colfax Ave BID in the release. “We’re working to help build those relationships so when businesses in the district are hiring, our crew members are the first people they contact.”
Denver Police celebrate 160 years with new badge Commemorative badge given to family of fallen officer Staff Report On Feb. 1, the Denver Police Department celebrated 160 years by introducing a commemorative badge honoring the anniversary. Police Chief Paul Pazen authorized officers to wear the badge, designed by Sgt. Christopher Hoag, throughout 2019. Officers can also buy the badge, according to a news release from the Denver Police Museum. Unveiling the commemorative badge was the first in a line of events planned through-
out 2019 celebrating the milestone, the release said. On the morning of Feb. 1, the police department presented the anniversary badge to the parents of Celina Hollis, the last Denver officer killed in the line of duty. Hollis was a seven-year veteran of DPD and worked in District 2. She was working in uniform, but off-duty, at the City Park Jazz Festival on the night of June 24, 2012, when she was shot while responding to a gang fight, according to the release. She died later that night at Denver Health Medical Center. A gang member was arrested at the scene and convicted for murder after a trial, according to the release. Hollis, 32, was survived by her daughter, Amyre, who was 12 years old at the time.
Police Chief Paul Pazen presents a commemorative badge to the parents of Officer Celina Hollis. Hollis was the last Denver Police officer to be killed in the line of duty. COURTESY OF DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT
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Life On Capitol Hill 5
March 2019
Business Matters By Kailyn Lamb | klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com Business Matters is a monthly column on the changing landscape of business and development in north Denver. If there are any inquiries on new developments in your area, or if you are a local business wishing to highlight an upcoming milestone, email Kailyn Lamb at klamb@ coloradocommunitymedia.com.
DEVELOPMENTS 301 S. Harrison St. A new senior living facility is planned for 301 S. Harrison St. Denver property records show the land was purchased late last year by Solterra Senior Living. The property is located near South Colorado Boulevard and East Alameda Avenue. The plan for the new facility was first reported by BusinessDen. The building will have 136 units over seven floors. Solterra is based in Arizona and has several senior living facilities there. Its website also lists a senior living facility in Castle Rock. Sports Castle The former Sports Authority at 1000 Broadway is headed for redevelopment after plans for apartments at the building, as well as adjacent properties, were submitted to the city in late January. Designs were submitted by Wood Partners. Structures on the north and east side of Sports Castle would be demolished and replaced with a 16-story apartment building. The Sports Castle building would be kept for public use. The plans are the first step before submitting formal designs to the city and may change. The Sports Castle building was built in the 1920s. In 1971, Garts Bros Sporting Goods Co. opened in the building. The company merged with Sports Authority in 2003. Sports Authority closed the store in 2016. The space has been used to house events as well as temporary stores such as Spirit Halloween since then.
BUSINESS OPENINGS Memphis Cue Bar A new pool hall is set to open this month at 333 Broadway. Memphis Cue Bar will offer pool leagues on both 7- and 9-foot tables. The business is hoping to attract more competitive pool players. The Broadway space was formerly Studio Lites, a wig and costuming store that catered to the drag and burlesque communities with a large inventory of sizes and styles. The store was in the space for 20 years and closed at the end of 2016. It reopened in a smaller location at 25 W. Third Ave. Anecdote A new coffee shop has filled in the space left behind by Black Eye Coffee at 820 Sherman St. It opened at the end of January. Anecdote first opened at 955 Bannock St. in the fall of 2017. But after six months in business, the property owner decided to demolish that building. In addition to coffee, Anecdote is a community space for artists and frequently held events in its old space. While renovating the new space on Sherman, the coffee shop held a meet-and-greet. Black Eye Coffee first opened on Sherman in 2015. The coffee shop briefly operated a bar at night called White Lies. Black Eye closed on Sherman in October 2017. The business still has a location in the Lower Highlands.
Habit Carbon Habit Doughnut Dispensary and Carbon Cafe and Bar has opened its second location in the Five Points Neighborhood. The co-branded businesses first opened at 1553 Platte St. Owner Lisa Ruskaup grew up in Denver and said she has always loved the Five Points neighborhood. She said the new location at 2200 California St. reminded her of her spot on Platte. The new location has a prototype kitchen space that Ruskaup said she hopes to use in future stores. The California Street location also has a doughnut-frying machine that can help the shop make 38 dozen batches an hour. Ruskaup said she calls the machine “The Dude” after the film “The Big Lebowski.” A machine making that many doughnuts in a day can help expand the business into wholesale, as well as other loactions, Ruskaup said. “As we grow and, hopefully, have more locations, we can feed our own stores,” she said. Broadway Market The new food hall opened Feb. 22. Before opening, Broadway Market announced that Royal Rooster, a fried chicken restaurant would be joining previously announced tenants. “We started Royal Rooster as a pop-up lunch at Old Major,” said Justin Brunson, the chef at Royal Rooster in a news release. “After a few years we decided it was time to have a stand-alone location. This first stand-alone Rooster will be a fast-casual operation featuring our favorite fried chicken sandwiches and a new rotating menu of sides.”
Lisa Ruskaup stands in her new Habit Doughnut Dispensary and Carbon Cafe and Bar location in the Five Points neighborhood. It is the second location for the business. KAILYN LAMB wide. The company emerged from bankruptcy later that year. Larkburger The burger chain announced the closure of four of its Colorado restaurants, including its Washington Park, Downtown and University Hills locations. In a post about the closures on its website, the company said it is hoping to rebrand its eight remaining locations as the Lark Spot. Lark Spot will offer community events and classes, as well as sandwiches on the menu. The location will also have bars. The Denver Lark Spot is at 8000 E. Belleview Ave.
CHANGES Pirate Alley Po’ Boys The owner of Julep, a Southerninspired restaurant in the River North neighborhood, recently opened a lunchonly sandwich shop inside the eatery. Pirate Alley Po’ Boys offers the New Orleans staple. The menu is made up of three po’ boy options, salad and pirate pockets, which are fritters stuffed with trotter and ham gumbo. Pirate Alley started serving sandwiches in February. Julep is at 3258 Larimer St.
CLOSINGS
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Pura Vida The fitness club closed at the end of February in the Cherry Creek area. Pura Vida’s owner made the announcement to staff in a letter and originally hoped to close the gym on April 15. But in the weeks following the announcement, the business lost revenue and revised the closing date to Feb. 28. “This decline in revenue along with the continued expenses has compelled me to accept the reality of the glaring financial impact by needing to adjust the closing date to February 28, 2019,” Founder J. Madden wrote in a letter to club members on the website. “Accepting this reality is extremely difficult and uncomfortable, but a necessity.” Madden also wrote that he is opening a new venture, Pura Vida Studio. He wrote that he is concentrating on negotiating lease terms, as well as hoping to secure funding for the new studio.
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Jonathan Adler Jonathan Adler, a high-end furniture store in Cherry Creek North, closed its doors at the end of January. It was the company’s only store in Colorado and was located at 158 Fillmore St. Payless ShoeSource The national chain Payless ShoeSource is closing its 16th Street Mall location. Signs on the building announced a sale as well as the closure. The store is at 821 16th St. The company announced in February that it would close all its remaining stores later this year. The company filed for bankruptcy in April 2017 and closed about 400 stores nation-
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6 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
Lulani Loverios falls asleep on her father’s shoulder while waiting for her parents to get married on Valentine’s Day. Jose Rioz, her father, and mom Lorena Sigala got married at the Webb Municipal Building in Denver.
a r t a n i S Love and
r i a e in th
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osemary Perepeliatnikov and new husband Alexi wanted to avoid the pressures of a big wedding. They just wanted something “sweet and simple.” And tying the knot on Valentine’s Day seemed
ideal. So the couple showed up Feb. 14 to the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office, where staff for the past 12 years has offered a special service on Valentine’s to those in love: a wedding license for $30 and a marriage cermony by an officiant or judge. “Today is represented as the day of love,” Rosemary said. “So, why not?” This year, the city tied the knot for 87 couples in a small room at the Webb Municipal Building at 201 W. Colfax Ave., where staff city staff had plastered romantic backdrops on the wall, hung inflatable blue planes from the ceiling and posed cutouts of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley along the walls. “It’s just a joyous time in our office,” said Debra Johnson, the city’s clerk and recorder. Johnson has been part of the event for eight years, and 2019 will be her last in office. Office staff, such as Sarah Hermer, create a theme each year for decorations. This year’s centered on travel tied to Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me.” Each year has memorable couples who have gone through different “trials and tribulations” that brought them together, such as the couple who met when they were
KAILYN LAMB
City of Denver performs 87 weddings on Valentine’s Day in ongoing tradition By Kailyn Lamb | klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
homeless, Hermer recalled. After finding a permanent home, they came in to get married. The whole room was in tears during the ceremony. Communications manager Alton Dillard said the event is about providing something for people outside of typical government service: Staff want to make the day memorable. Spending time with other people celebrating the day of love is part of what made the event special for some couples. Jean and Constantino Evaristo opted for the city wedding because it was a cheaper option. The couple wanted to save their money for a post-wedding celebration. Jean heard about the Valentine’s event last year and knew that was how she wanted to get married. “I thought that was the coolest part of it,” she said, of sharing the day with other Colorado couples. Luke Krajeik and Jamieric Factor arrived wearing matching plaid shirts. They planned to spend the evening of their wedding sharing dinner with just the two of them and their dog, Hazel. Krajeik said he and Factor didn’t want a large ceremony — and wanted to keep the event between the two of them. “Even if we are sharing it with a lot of people,” he said of the other couples there, “it feels like just the two of us.” SEE WEDDINGS, P7
Alton Dillard, communications manager for the Clerk and Recorder, left, and City Councilmember Paul D. Lopez pose for a photo at the Webb Municipal Building during Valentine’s Day wedding celebrations. Dillard and Lopez talked with couples during wedding ceremonies and worked with staff to make the day memorable.
Life On Capitol Hill 7
March 2019
Lorena Sigala signs a poster in the Webb Municipal Building after getting married on Valentine’s Day. She said she felt blessed to have her family there to celebrate with her. PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB
Weddings FROM PAGE 6
The day is also special for those leading the services. Herb Galchinsky, also known as “Herbie the Love Judge,” was 73 and retired when he first started volunteering for the event in 2011. After a career in law and working as a judge, Galchinsky said he had seen some of the worst of humanity. Volunteering for the Valentine’s wedding event has been a sort of therapy for him, he said, a reminder that there are good people. As someone who’s been married for 58 years himself, he noted that marriage takes compromise.
“You have to make an adjustment because everybody’s a little different,” he said. Jessie Buchanan was another returning officiant. She did 12 weddings at last year’s Valentine’s event and was hoping to do more this year. This was longtime wedding officiant Jane Gorman’s first time doing weddings for Denver. She and her husband, also a wedding officiant for her company, Jane’s Personalized Weddings, have been married for 30 years. For Gorman, weddings are not only her livelihood. She also truly believes, she said, in love and marriage for everyone. The Valentine’s Day weddings left her “with a full heart” and a possible new tradition. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my Valentine’s,” she said. “This is just a joyful day for everybody.”
An officiant fills out a wedding certificate for a couple married in Denver on Valentine’s Day. The city has offered wedding ceremonies on the holiday for the last 12 years.
“You have to make an adjustment because everybody’s a little different.” Herb Galchinsky
Although Herb Galchinsky is a retired judge, he has volunteered to do wedding ceremonies at the city for Valentine’s Day for the last eight years. He is known as “Herbie the Love Judge.”
Luke Krajeik places a wedding ring on Jamieric Factor’s finger. The couple were one of 87 couples to get married during a special Valentine’s Day wedding event in the city of Denver.
8 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
DeGette speaks on homelessness, opioid crisis Congresswoman hopes to bring more science into government By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
At the start of a new Congress, Colorado Community Media caught up with U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colorado), who represents the 1st Congressional District, to talk about some of her plans for the coming year. The district comprises Denver, Englewood, Cherry Hills Village, Glendale and Sheridan. DeGette is chair of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee under the Energy and Commerce Committee. She has been part of the Committee on Energy and Commerce since she was first DeGette elected to Congress in 1997. She plans to bring more science-based evidence to hearings and investigations of these committees. “I don’t think that you can legislate unless you have a strong scientific foundation,” she said. On Feb. 7, Oversight and Investigations held its first hearing on the separations of children from their parents at the border. DeGette said hearings will also be held on climate change, drug pricing and family planning. During the government shutdown from Dec. 22, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019, DeGette held outreach events with Coloradans who had been
furloughed. In addition to stress on families and frustration at not being paid, DeGette said many people talked about their concerns fort the future of government programs and staffing. Can you talk about some of the long-term impacts of the government shutdown on your constituents? Long term, if you keep doing this, it’s going to have a corrosive effect on our economy, but also it’s going to, I think, deter people from going into government service. People have to think really hard about whether they’re going to make these family sacrifices. I think that if this continues, it’s not only going to erode our economy but it’s going to erode our ability to get highly skilled professionals to come into these jobs. What is Congress looking at with the opioid crisis, and how will it impact municipalities like Denver and Englewood? The Oversight sub-committee last year did a really robust series of hearings on the opioid crisis. We got a really good handle on, number one, the extent of the crisis and, number two, what you need to do to prevent the crisis and to treat people. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy solution and it’s going to be very costly. So at the end of the year we passed a whole basket of bills. I think I had three bills in this basket — it was like 42 bills — but they really nibbled around the edge of this: adjusting some policies here and there, doing some studies. I think what we need to do is we need to have a czar within HHS (Health and Human Services), just like we did with AIDS. We had
CIGARETTE
butts =
litt litter
an AIDS czar within HHS to coordinate all of this, and we need to have adequate funding. So, for example, this office ... would help coordinate state programs or responsible prescribing. In Colorado now, we actually do have a system. We were one of the worst states, and then some years ago we set up a system, a computer system and an education system for doctors to help with responsible prescribing. Also, our hospital association and our hospitals are starting to work on alternatives to opioids for pain management. We actually went from the back of the pack to the front of the pack. But we need to be able to do that nationally — not all states are doing that. The second thing that you have to do is you have to help state and local governments be able to develop addiction treatment that’s science-based and can really help people get away from opioid addictions. Medically-assisted treatment is wildly expensive and most state and local governments don’t have that money. So you’re going to have to commit some real money. My 21st Century Cures Bill that I did a few years ago, we had $2 billion in that bill for grants to the states for opioid prevention and treatment. Colorado got quite a bit. But that needs to be continued and amped up. What are your thoughts on the safe injection site in Denver? I’ve been talking to medical professionals about this, and to public health professionals, and I’m trying to get some data. We have had the needle-exchange sites, and I’ve visited the one over on Colfax across from the State Capitol. But there are not a lot of safe injection sites. Vancouver is the main one.
What is being done at the federal level to address homelessness? There are a number of roles. One of them is to try and break down barriers. For example, at Denver Health, what they have realized is if they take some of their Medicaid dollars and some of their other federal dollars and they use it in part for the wrap-around program — like housing for homeless individuals and for drug counseling and for job training and so on — that helps reduce the cost of medical care because people have a place to live and so they’re less sick and so on. That’s something that people don’t naturally think of in a federal role. Then the second place we can really help at a federal level is with our funding. I think that you’ll see in the Democratic budgets that come out of the House over the next few years real emphasis on funding that will help develop housing for homeless folks.
New sculpture from Mexican artist lights up park Staff Report Mexico-based artist Jorge Marín returned to Denver earlier this year to unveil a new sculpture at Riverfront Park near downtown. “Luz de Denver” will be in the park permanently, according to a news release from the Riverfront Park Community Foundation at 1610 Little Raven St. Between 2016 and 2017, Marín had a temporary outdoor installation at Commons Park, 2101 15th St., along the South Platte River in north Denver. The exhibit featured nine sculptures. Eight of the pieces were part of Marín’s “Eight Cities, Eight Cultures” project. “Luz de Denver” is a permanent version of “Wings of Mexico,” one of the eight sculptures in the series. “Jorge Marín’s `Wings of México’ quickly became a very popular destination in Commons Park,” said Amy Cara, board member of the Riverfront Park Community Foundation, in the release. “Because of the temporary sculpture’s unique ability to engage and enliven the community, the Foundation board decided to commission `Luz de Denver,’ a permanent celebration of the vitality of our neighborhood and our city.”
Mexican artist Jorge Marín’s “Luz de Denver” is now permanently on display at Riverfront Park. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RIVERFRONT PARK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Life On Capitol Hill 9
March 2019
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It’s a common thing to ask yourself, “What do I want to do?” There are so many industries and choices out there, it may be hard to narrow down which career field is best for you. But, if you are looking for something that’s diverse in types of jobs, steady and always growing and will give you an opportunity to experience the world – think about a career in hospitality. One of the biggest reasons to consider a career in hospitality is one of the most obvious reasons – It’s staying power. The original idea of hospitality was to create the feeling of a home away from home. You may be surrounded by strangers in a strange land, but you are made to feel welcome. Let’s face it, as long as there is traveling, there is a need for hospitality. In Denver, look at the history of the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, located at 321 17th St. The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa has been synonymous with extraordinary service since its opening in 1892. Over the last 126 years, the Brown Palace has embraced the diverse workforce in the Denver area. In December 2018, the Brown Palace had our most senior employee, Rose, retire after 59 years of service. She started at the hotel in October 1959 when she was 17 years old. Her mother worked at the Brown Palace as a housekeeper and ended up working at the hotel for 30 years. Her 2 brothers
also worked at the hotel in different departments from the linen room to maintenance to housekeeping houseman. When Rose started, both her and her sister were originally elevator attendants and made $1 an hour. While working as the elevator attendant, they had the opportunity to meet President Eisenhower, Jerry Lewis and Lucille Ball, just to name a few. Fast forward to 2018, and the Brown Palace still embraces its rich history and maintains its original charm for both guests and employees. Currently, 15 percent of the hotel team has been working at the hotel for 15 or more years with the next most senior employee who started in May 1961. The amenities mean opportunity in career – In hospitality, you aren’t just working a front desk. You are able to find diverse opportunities in the types of jobs you can seek. Whether it be in customer relations, cooking, cleaning, bars or in the Brown Palace’s case, working in the spa services boutique, the chance for growth is endless. Exposed to the world – While being here at home in Denver, a career in the hospitality industry gives you the opportunity to explore the world. People from all over the world check in to the Brown Palace Hotel, giving you the chance to experience different cultures. To learn more about career opportunities at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, visit the website at https://www.brownpalace.com/
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10 Life On Capitol Hill
LOCAL
March 2019
VOICES
‘Refilling your cup’ can help keep stress at bay FROM THE EDITOR
Kailyn Lamb
I
love my job as an editor. But there are days when I feel buried in emails, torn between multiple projects as I navigate the logistics of putting out two monthly papers. Stress is a part of everyone’s life, no ifs, ands or buts about it. What’s important is to make sure you’re giving time back to yourself — or as Katherine Frank with the Healthy Living Team at the Mental Health Center of Denver puts it: “You’re refilling your cup.” Self-care is an important component of mental health that often stems from other branches of health, Franks said. “It’s not just about the mind,” she said, “it’s also about typical health.” Getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet are a big part of self-care. But emotional and spiritual care also are important parts of keeping up with your own mental health. A key element to remember, Franks said, is that self-care means different things to different people. “Everyone has their own basis for self-care,” she said. Activities such as yoga and meditation, for instance,
may work for some but not for others. One of Frank’s routines is taking a bus to a new part of Denver to explore a different section of the city. For me, reading a book that’s so interesting I can read for hours without realizing the passage of time is when I feel most at peace. So, how do you find the activity that works for you? Many people go home and watch TV or play on their phones, thinking that’s a self-care activity, Frank said. And while it can act as a needed “brain break,” she said, it’s not necessarily a way to give back to yourself. The cup, instead of being refilled, stays at the same level. One way to start looking for a self-care activity that works for you is to hop on Google. An article Frank said can be helpful is from Develop Good Habits called “275 self-care ideas (and activities) for coping with life”( https://www.developgoodhabits.com/selfcare-ideas/). The list offers a mixture of paid and free activities. Frank said this can be helpful for creating a self-care routine because some things are not affordable to do every day. “Getting a massage isn’t something that you can ide-
ally do every day,” she said. There are small activities people can do within their workday for mental health as well. Most people in American society spend more than 40 hours a week working, Frank said. Taking a break from your desk, especially during lunch, can be important, she said. People can also do stretches during the day to help activate muscles, making your body tired, which can help you sleep better. For daily self-care activities, Frank said it’s important to carve out at least 10 or 15 minutes each day. For me, I’ve been trying to put my phone down and turn off screens an hour before I go to bed. I’ve been spending that time catching up on my favorite food magazines or reading a book. Creating that routine has helped give my brain a break, making it easier to settle into bed. Before I had this routine, it was pretty common for me to lay in bed thinking about the day, or what articles I needed to get done. Putting in the time is really the key, Frank said, asking “are you doing things that you love to do, or are you making excuses for not having time?”
Let’s build community that combines old and new
P
erhaps the greatest challenge of public leadership is leading from the liminal space — the space between what was and what is to come. It is in this space that the greatest transformations take place. Denver’s transition from being a big small city to a small big city certainly brings some growing pains and sense of loss. And, for some, our growth represents new opportunities for neighbors that have been longing for more services and greater community amenities. Let us not be too nostalgic for an old Denver that was often characterized by vacancy and violence. Instead, let us come together to build the Denver we desire. One where everyone feels a deep sense of belonging, and where our identities share a strong sense of place that’s rooted in community that builds housing for all — because all belong. Let’s build a community that combines the cultural legacies of old Denver with the captured aspirations of new Denver. We can’t turn back the clock, and building nothing will actually increase our affordability crisis. Somewhere between nothing new and nothing
DIANA HELPER Editor’s Note: Because of personal reasons, Diana Helper was unable to write a column for the March issue. Look for a new column next month.
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preserved lies the answer. I want to share what happens when we come together and actually build the Denver we desire. In two District 9 neighborhoods I’m working with local developers Councilmember and a community organization on Albus Brooks three projects to build more than 100 units of workforce and lowincome units, a full-service affordable grocer, community space and safer streets. I am sponsoring a rezoning in Cole that will require the developer to build a full-service grocer, provide open space and build roughly 20 workforce housing units (60 percent AMI). This project will create a safer street and pedestrian experience in an area that had more than 20 accidents in 2018 alone. This development will also provide 100 jobs for neighbors.
GUEST COLUMN
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Life On Capitol Hill 11
March 2019
Defining great schools and teachers
J
GUEST COLUMN
too “reformy” or not sufficiently focused on holding everyone accountable for failures. I started by defining what we might all agree a great school should produce: engaged citizens who understand how the world works, are deeply committed Nate Easley to making it a better place and have the tools to act on that commitment. To make this happen, for low-income kids in particular, might seem like an act of magic or alchemy, but in fact it’s dependent on basic human connection. In a school, nothing matters more than the connections forged between students and teachers. And for those connections to conduct deep meaning the way copper wire conducts electricity requires great teachers. As basic as this sounds, can we all agree that great schools require great teachers? Here we are again, needing to define greatness. Fortunately, most of us have had some great teachers during our years in school, so we have points of reference. (We’ve probably had great teachers in other contexts as well — coaches, mentors, bosses, colleagues. But that’s a topic for another day.)
ust before the December holiday break I received in the mail a glossy, 100-page magazine from Denver Public Schools. It was the 2019-20 school year “Great Schools Enrollment Guide” for middle and high schools. If you’re a DPS parent, you probably got one too, or the elementary-school version. It’s intended to provide families with a onestop shopping catalog for public schools in Denver, be they district-run, innovation or charter schools. Intrigued by the title, I started flipping through the colorful pages, filled with shots of a photogenic, rainbow coalition collection of students. What I saw in the charts and descriptions was evidence of some great schools, to be sure, but also schools that by any measure fall short of that lofty accolade. As I looked over the guide, it occurred to me that in the field of education, we tend to toss around grand phrases like “great schools” without pausing to ponder or explain what they mean. I decided to embark on a quick exercise: How would I define a great school in straightforward, jargon-free language? I found the exercise to be simultaneously challenging and revealing. One challenge was coming up with a definition that avoided the political minefields that in these polarized days mar public discourse on almost any topic, education included. To be useful, a definition can’t be perceived as “anti-teacher” or “pro-teacher,”
Brooks FROM PAGE 10
I am sponsoring a rezone of a former blighted Douglas Bruce property in Cole (37th and York), working with a local nonprofit to build 90 units of low-income and workforce housing, community space and much-needed services for neighbors. I sponsored a rezone of three properties in conjunction with the GES Coalition, Brothers Redevelopment and Colorado Land Trust to create Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) for families displaced by the I-70 project. Yes, this means some short-term construction inconvenience, but I think that’s
worth it to eliminate a food desert and provide 100-plus families with a new beginning, and I hope you can understand this perspective. The booming economy that brings some growing pains is the same economy that we can harness to spark economic justice and build a more equitable, inclusive city. I invite you to enter into the liminal space and build with me; let us appreciate what was, and have greater ownership over what is to come. Denver Councilmember Albus Brooks represents District 9. The district covers north central Denver, including City Park, the Central Business District, Five Points and more. Brooks served as council president from July 2016 to July 2018. He can be reached at Albus.Brooks@Denvergov.org.
When I think back on my education experience, and the great teachers who propelled me through the years, it’s not difficult to list the attributes and qualities that made some teachers great. My great teachers: • Always believed I could learn and instilled that belief in me. • Inspired me to engage deeply in learning, regardless of the topic of study. • Challenged me to do my best and gave me confidence that I could succeed. • Could always be honest with me because they made it clear that they knew me and cared about me. Their honesty was always considerate and constructive. • Guided me to consider issues from multiple perspectives. • Inspired all kids in a classroom to respect one another and to behave in a way that was conducive to a learning environment for all. • Were masters of the craft of teaching and the topics and subjects they taught. • Made even the most challenging content comprehensible and “breathable.” • Made everyone around them better — not just students, but peers and supervisors as well. • Made it safe to fail and exhilarating to succeed. Admittedly, that’s quite a list, and it’s a tall order to expect teachers to hit each and every bullet point. The greatest teachers might hit them all, but not everyone can be the greatest. The best, however, can
inspire the rest toward greatness. So if a great school requires at least some great teachers, then it also must have a great school leader, someone who attracts and retains those teachers. That means a leader who clears the decks of all the junk that impedes teachers from teaching — the busy work, the bureaucracy, the pressures unrelated to inspiring students to be their best selves. It also means distributing leadership and accountability among the staff and working to bring out the best in those educators who don’t quite rise to that level. Finally, a great school leader must also inspire families and the broader community to support the school in meaningful ways, which includes advocating for the school when various bureaucracies, as well-intentioned as they might be, create impediments. In no way am I suggesting that any of this is easy. There are many obstacles that keep schools from being great, that discourage even the most gifted teachers and leaders, that get in the way of progress and success. Nate Easley is chief executive officer of RootED, a nonprofit created to accelerate the availability of world-class public education in Denver in the Central Business District. He served on the Denver Public Schools board from 2009-13 and was board president from 2009-11. He can be reached at neasley@rooteddenver.org.
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12 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
DENVER ZOO BREAKS GROUND
ON NEW HOSPITAL
This rendering shows the viewing platform for guests of the Denver Zoo. People will be able to look into surgery rooms to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the zoo cares for its animals. COURTESY OF DENVER ZOO
Head veterinarian calls it ‘a privilege’ to work with animals allowed the zoo to perform surgeries on the smallest of animals. But even still, the renovated space from the 1980s is falling behind new technology. “We have made every effort to keep up with the pace of veterinary medical technology in our current facility, but now we need enhanced spaces, combined with state-ofthe-industry tools, to ensure our animals’ well being for another 50 years,” said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of the Denver Zoo, in a news release.
By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
B
eing a veterinarian at the Denver Zoo means working with hundreds of animals, from the largest cats and primates to the smallest frogs. In a world with so much diversity, staff relies on each other’s knowledge and, sometimes, learning from the animals themselves, said Scott Larsen, the zoo’s head veterinarian. “It is a never-ending process of learning,” he said. “None of us knows everything about anything.” In the coming year, the Denver Zoo is hoping to share a little bit of that knowledge with visitors. Last month, the zoo tore down its old animal hospital to make room for a new, stateof-the-art facility. Named the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital after a nonprofit foundation, the 22,000-squarefoot building will have a diagnostics lab, quarantine space and a CT scanner. The project was paid for in part by General Obligation Bond funds approved by Denver voters in 2017. Denver Zoo received $20 million for master plan improvements from the bond. “The community continues to support the zoo and all that it endeavors today, and we’re here because the people of Denver said yes to the largest general obligation bond issuance to date when they approved the Elevate Denver Bond,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock at the Feb. 7 groundbreaking. “The residents spoke loud and clear and said yes, and also said culture matters to us here in Denver. The zoo matters to Denver.” New hospital a boon for animals and visitors While the new building is under construction, the zoo will be caring for its animals in a former welding space on site that they have renovated as hospital
Veterinary staff at the Denver Zoo perform surgery on a tiger in this archive photo. The zoo is rebuilding its hospital to include a CT scanner as well as a diagnostic lab and quarantine space. COURTESY OF DENVER ZOO space, Larsen said. The space is only about 1,200-square-feet. In the new building, guests will have space for animal demonstrations. From an elevated lobby, visitors can look down into surgery rooms and the laboratory. The zoo is estimating the hospital will open in mid-2020. The larger space will help the zoo care for the animals here in Denver, but Larsen said it also will help staff who work in the zoo’s conservation efforts in the wild. “We try to take what we learn from our animals here and make improvements with how we work with those animals in the wild,” he said. The same can be said for visitors. By teaching people how the zoo cares for its animals, Larsen said he is hoping that will translate into people caring about those same animals in the wild.
The hospital was first built in the 1960s, then renovated in the `80s, Larsen said. The renovation offered visitors a behindthe-scenes look at the zoo’s newest animal additions, the babies born into the zoo’s care. One of the zoo’s most famous set of newborns, polar bear cubs Klondike and Snow, brought veterinary care front and center. But over the past several decades, the zoo has changed a lot in how it cares for its animal collection, Larsen said. Although some of the zoo’s babies stay in the hospital’s nursery section, staff were making more efforts to keep those animals in the care of their mothers, Larsen said. “That part of what we do that is very, very different,” he said about the new system of staff “assit-rearing” of baby animals. The veterinary staff has also grown over the years, Larsen said. The larger staff has
Caring for animals ‘a privilege’ Larsen agreed. The zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals, which Larsen has helped care for over the past seven years. “We do so much more with our collection than we used to,” he said. “Really, we’re not able to continue to meet the needs of our collection at the level of care that we feel that we should provide.” Larsen has seen some ups and downs in the time he has been at the Denver Zoo. In 2017, a tiger the zoo received through a breeding program died of a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Although the zoo had to euthanize the animal, Larsen said he was proud of how quickly the veterinary team responded in caring for and diagnosing the large tiger. Last fall, when Tonks the aye aye was born, staff noticed her mother was not showing maternal instincts. The U.S. has fewer than 30 aye ayes, a rare nocturnal Madagascan primate related to the lemurs. Larsen spent the night sleeping on his office floor, getting up every few hours, to feed the baby and try to keep it warm. Staff members have thankfully been able to get the mother to take care of the baby, and they’ve been together ever since, said Larsen, who counts his contribution toward caring for the aye aye as a memorable one. “It was one of my last experiences of the old hospital,” Larsen said. “It was not a burden — it was a privilege.”
Life On Capitol Hill 13
March 2019
Denver teachers end strike following deal Adjustments to compensation system bring educators back to classrooms
Listen to what teachers, students and administrators had to say page 14.
By Melanie Asmar Chalkbeat.org
The Denver school district and teachers union have reached an agreement in their longsimmering dispute over teacher pay, ending a strike as it entered its fourth day. The tentative deal gives teachers significant raises and a more traditional pay system, while keeping incentives for teachers at high-poverty schools that the district believes are essential. The tentative agreement was announced shortly after 6 a.m. on Feb. 14, after the two sides emerged from behind closed doors after some nine hours of huddling separately. They had begun the bargaining session at 10 a.m. Feb. 13. Union members voted to approve the deal on Feb. 25. The school board will also have to vote to approve the deal, but this brings a close to the first Denver teacher strike in 25 years. “We didn’t want to have to go to the strike,” lead union negotiator Rob Gould said after the tentative agreement was signed, “but the ability to utilize our last tool in our tool belt to get the district to listen to our needs — we used it, and I think it’s a victory for our teachers but more importantly, for our students.” The strike was a test for the union, which has become more assertive and gained members in recent years. Teachers on Feb. 13 had expressed an eagerness to return to their classrooms after three days of picketing, rallies, and advocacy. Denver Superintendent Susana Cordova said she believes the strike was critical for teachers “to make incredibly clear what was important to them” and express their values. “Frankly, they’re values I share,” Cordova said. Her hope for the future, she added, is that teachers and district officials could talk through differences “along the way, as opposed to it feeling like it’s mounting and mounting and mounting.” With the exception of preschool classrooms, the district kept schools open throughout the strike using a combination of paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and redeployed central office staff. But about a quarter of students stayed home, and some of those who did go to school reported problems ranging from overly simplistic lessons to chaos. At several large high schools, students walked out in support of their teachers. Agreement addresses concerns The district and the union were negotiating major changes to a once-groundbreaking merit pay system that had become complicated and unpopular. Educators complained their pay was too low and unpredictable, and this deal goes a long way toward addressing those concerns. The agreement will inject an additional $23.1 million into teacher pay and give educators an 11.7 percent raise next year on average, according to Denver Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Mark Ferrandino. The deal covers 5,353 teachers, nurses, counselors, and other educators in the district. It will have ripple effects throughout the district, as part of the money to pay for the raises will come from cutting administrative costs, including 150 central office positions. Those same administrative cuts will also pay
MORE INFORMATION
Newly announced DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova, left, and Ron Cabrera, the interim superintendent listen to teachers speak at a community meeting. The teacher’s union recently voted to approve a deal with DPS. FILE PHOTO for raises to paraprofessionals, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and others not covered by the teacher contract, the superintendent has said. The agreed-upon salary schedule has seven “lanes” and 20 “steps.” Lanes represent a teacher’s educational attainment, such as whether they have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and steps represents a teacher’s years of positive evaluations. Teachers would get a base salary raise whenever they move a lane or gain a step. That’s different from how the district’s pay system, called Pro-Comp, works now. For years, the schedule has been used only to set teachers’ salary when they are hired, with raises based on factors such as whether they complete certain training. The starting base salary next year would be $45,800, a 7 percent increase from $42,789 this year. The maximum salary — for educators with 20 years of experience and a doctorate — would be $100,000. That doesn’t include the bonuses and incentives teachers can earn on top of that. Incentives were sticking point The two sides agreed upon a $2,000 incentive for educators who work in high-poverty schools, a $2,000 incentive for educators who work in hard-to-fill positions, such as special education or secondary math, and a $3,000 retention bonus for educators who return year over year to 30 “highest-priority” schools. That last bonus was a major sticking point in negotiations, which stretched over 15 months. The union originally proposed to eliminate it altogether and put the money into base pay for all teachers, but agreed on Feb. 13 to compromise and keep it. “We are open to the incentive because we know it’s important to you,” Gould said on the evening of Feb. 13. “And we’re willing to entertain your ideas if we can get the base salary schedule that our teachers need.” However, union negotiators made clear they don’t think the incentive is effective. The data doesn’t support it, they said, arguing that there are better ways to improve conditions in highpoverty schools: smaller class sizes, less punitive discipline policies, hiring more teachers of color, and an evaluation system that doesn’t penalize teachers for low student test scores. “If we really care about these students in these schools, you’ll be looking at these things and you’ll be talking with educators,” said Greg Ahrnsbrak, a physical education teacher at Bruce Randolph School and a member of the union bargaining team. “We’re in the field.
The agreement between DPS and the teachers’ union can be found at https://denverteachers.org/wp-content/ uploads/DPS-DCTAAgreement.pdf
The two sides also agreed on an idea originally proposed by the district: allowing educators to get a raise for 10 years of continuous service with the district. Arielle Sawyer, who teaches eighth-grade language arts at Bear Valley International School in southwest Denver, said that she was thinking about how to catch her students up on missed work even as she marched along South Broadway on the morning of Feb. 13 with hundreds of chanting, red-shirted colleagues.
We know.” Nothing in this deal directly addresses those needs, though both sides hope that the new pay system improves teacher retention — to the ultimate benefit of students. The district also made several big concessions on Feb. 13, including reducing the number of proposed steps on the salary schedule from 30 to 20. Each step represents a year in which an educator gets a positive evaluation. Having fewer means educators can get bigger raises more quickly.
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14 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
‘When teachers thrive, kids Student, teachers and administrators reflect on the strike
win’
T H E ST U D E N TS
By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
T H E T E AC H E R S Justine Sawyer, left, and Liv Scaetta.
Grace Ramsey, left, and Margalit Goldberg.
KAILYN LAMB
KAILYN LAM
G
race Ramsey and Margalit Goldberg are 10th-grade students at South High School. The two attended rally events at Civic Center and picketed at the school in the mornings. “All the teachers I’ve had at DPS have been amazing and they deserve more than what they’re getting,” Goldberg said. “It shows the district so much when the teachers, students
F
or teachers Justine Sawyer from South High School and Liv Saetta from Summit Academy in southwest Denver, it was about fighting the Pro-Comp system and where funds were going. “(I wanted) to expose the loaded central administration and mismanagement of the funds that already exist in our district. They are being severely misallocated,” Sawyer said. “I’m upset as a taxpayer as well. That money is not actually being used for direct instruction for kids.” Saetta agreed, saying she didn’t realize how complicated the Pro-Comp system was until she tried to refinance her house last year. “I had to give my pay stubs to my lender, who
and parents show up.” Participating in the strike has been a learning experience, one that felt powerful, Ramsey said. “I’ve learned that unity helps make change and if you work together you can help make something different.” SEE STUDENTS, P15
couldn’t make heads or tails of it,” she said. “I almost lost my house that I had for 18 years. I wasn’t able to get as much money because of my base (salary).” Saetta’s parents helped her financially during the strike. “It was very stressful leading up to it, not knowing is it tomorrow or is it next month?” she said. “In all honesty, if I didn’t have my parents, my 85-year-old father helping me out, I’m losing two weeks of groceries a day on strike. If you can’t afford to strike, you have to strike.” SEE TEACHERS, P15
T H E A D M I N I ST R ATO R S
D
PS’s new superintendent, Susana Cordova, had just started her new role when teachers voted to strike. For her, she said, it was a balancing act of ensuring students were cared for while simultaneously participating in negotiations. It was important to find common ground during the negotiating process. During the last strike in 1994, Cordova was a teacher on maternity leave. Upon returning to work, she said she could still feel the tension with
some teachers. She hopes to use that experience in moving forward after this strike. “I learned a lot from that experience. Going forward, I know that, as a school district, it will be extremely important for us to focus on the things that unite us and not the things that divide us,” she said. “That way, we can create the culture we believe will support our students the most.” SEE ADMINISTRATORS, P15
DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova.
Debbie Hearty, chief of human resources
Life On Capitol Hill 15
March 2019
To learn about the agreement that ended the strike, go to page 13.
Students FROM PAGE 14
Savannah Arellano and Bella Stevens, 11th-grade students at Denver School for the Arts, said nearly all of their teachers participated in the strike — 52 out of 54. Their teachers often go the extra mile for them, Stevens said. “They do so much for us, especially with our school, being there until 9 or 10 for rehearsal and stuff,” she said. Arellano said that while the process of learning about the strike has been chaotic, she’s glad she was able to support her teachers. “It’s really messy,” she said, “but that’s the point.”
Samanthan Agoos, a science teacher at East High School
Bella Stevens, left, and Savanna Arellano. KAILYN LAMB
“I was happy to see that DCTA was able to communicate educators’ needs to the district and the district was responsive.”
Administrators FROM PAGE 14
Debbie Hearty, chief of human resources at DPS, said the strike showed a larger problem with underfunding for education in Colorado. “Both teams actually agreed on so much—wanting DPS to be the best place for teachers to thrive because, when teachers thrive, kids win. Both teams supported the creation of a fair and transparent compensation system where all teachers and Specialized Service Providers
Samanthan Agoos,
Teachers FROM PAGE 14
Samanthan Agoos, a science teacher at East High School, said that she and her husband saved money for a year in order to prepare for the pay losses during a potential strike. Having these conversations is important, she said, and she worked with her students before the strike to address their concerns. On the professional side, she said she was happy with how negotiations went.
saw an increase in salary while still honoring the Pro-Comp ballot language,” Hearty said. “The negotiations process revealed just how challenging it is to address years and years of state underfunding in education in one year.” She hopes the district can use its passionate teachers and leaders to work together for the benefit of students. “My hope is that we are able to leverage these gifts and generate a renewed sense of optimism and collaboration that results in classrooms and schools where all students thrive,” Hearty said. Mark Farrandino, chief financial
“I thought that DCTA did an excellent job negotiating on behalf of teachers and representing our best interests. I was happy to see that DCTA was able to communicate educators’ needs to the district and the district was responsive,” Agoos said. “Now that the strike is resolved, I am hoping that educators will continue to be respected and valued in our communities. Ideally, community members will continue to recognize the crucial role teachers play in shaping the lives of children as well as influencing society.”
officder at DPS, said the strike was “as far from a normal week as I could imagine.” “As a former state legislator, I have led and been part of many debates. This was one of the harder negotiations I have been through,” he said. “Both sides agreed on the need for a fair and transparent system with more funding. At the same time, the discussions were more around what that looks and feels like in practice. In addition, when we are one of the lowest-funded education systems in the country, it is hard to determine a baseline on compensation for our teachers and other educators.”
Mark Farrandino, chief financial officer
16 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ART
Jordan Casteel stands in front of her painting “Yvonne and James” at the Denver Art Museum. Casteel was born and raised in Denver, and her new exhibition “Returning the Gaze” is showing until Aug. 18. PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB
“Charles” is one of 30 paintings by Jordan Casteel in the Denver Art Museum exhibition “Returning the Gaze.” Casteel met Charles in Harlem, where he sells his own handmade furs.
Denver native created a family through her painting subjects By Kailyn Lamb
get
inspired
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Walking through the Denver Art Museum’s new exhibit, “Returning the Gaze,” viewers will catch snapshots of everyday life in Harlem, as well as the steady eyes of subjects that artist Jordan Casteel has brought to life on canvas. But for Casteel, the paintings bring a deeper meaning — a community she has created for herself. At 30 years old, Denver native Casteel is showing her first solo exhibition at the DAM. As a young girl, Casteel remembers coming to the museum, participating in programs where she would spend the night there, absorbing the art on its walls. Seeing her own work transition from craft projects on school trips at the DAM to large-scale paintings on the walls of the Hamilton Building does not yet feel real to Casteel. “I’m waiting for someone to pinch me,” she said. “It hasn’t hit me yet.” Casteel graduated from East High School in the City Park neighborhood. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the Agnes Scott College in Georgia. From there, she went on to teach special education at the Denver Center for International Studies at Montbello. Some of her earliest painting subjects were her students. She received a master’s degree from Yale School of Art in 2014. While attending school there, she started working on a series of nudes of black men who were drama students on campus. It was in this series that Casteel decided she wanted her subjects to have a strong and steady gaze back onto the viewer. For her, the question was: “How do I maintain a sense of power and a sense of self for these subjects as they move into the world and I’m not able to be directly their voice?” A steady gaze from subjects in paintings is not often seen in the art world,” said Rebecca
R. Hart, the museum’s curator of modern and contemporary art. Casteel’s paintings showed “profound empathy for the inner lives of her sitters.” “Traditionally, the power dynamic between the artist and the subject tilts in favor of the artist — it’s the artist’s gaze,” Hart said. “The sitters in Jordan Casteel’s work, however, return the artist’s gaze — and ours. They invite our respect through their eyes.” Casteel’s subjects are also often shown in their own space as well, whether it’s their home, their family business or a favorite spot of Harlem streets. Evolution of an artist After graduating from Yale, Casteel moved to Harlem in New York City. She returned to her roots, painting from photos of friends and family in Denver. “I left grad school, and I moved to New York and I was like, `I don’t know what I’m doing here,’ ” she said. “So I went back to the source.” Denver continues to influence her paintings. In a new city, Casteel didn’t have family ties or friends at first. As she began to find subjects to paint, Harlem residents and business owners became like an extended family, she said. Creating community is something she learned in Denver. “It has given me the building blocks more than anything,” she said. “Those values around community started here.” The more she painted in New York, the more people she met. Her network grew. And several subjects from her paintings came to the DAM for opening festivities. Casteel also shared stories on her subjects, such as the couple in “Yvonne and James,” who became like second parents. “I’m not really interested in kind of appearing and then disappearing,” she said. “This is about real community-building for me.”
IF YOU GO “Returning the Gaze” will be showing at the Denver Art Museum through Aug. 18. The exhibition is included in museum general admission. For more information, or to buy tickets, go to https://denverartmuseum.org/.
Road to the DAM The museum has been working with Casteel for the last 2 ½ years to put the exhibition together, Hart said. Hart and DAM director Christoph Heinrich agreed Casteel has a way of bringing her subjects to life. Often, they are individuals that people don’t take a second glance at on the street. Casteel’s painting of “Charles,” for example, shows a man selling furs on a street corner in Harlem. “When we are in the city we always see them, we run by, we always have our agenda in our head and maybe don’t even take notice of them,” Heinrich said. “Jordan, as an artist, has almost the privilege to stop in her tracks and to ask them and to start communicating with them.” For Hart, the brightly colored paintings are Casteel’s way to “encourage people to slow down and look at the people that are around them.” Celebrating businesses owned by black families, as well as the relationships black men have with each other, was a focus Casteel wanted to bring into the world of museums. Traditionally, she said, museums don’t have a lot of representations of people of color. “I wanted to represent that which was most familiar to me,” she said. “Knowing I had great potential to further the story, and to contribute to a future lineage, that was definitely a conscious decision.”
Life On Capitol Hill 17
March 2019
SUMMER CAMP 2019
‘If you can’t meditate, you can do this’ Denver studios see increase in yoga nidra classes By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Yoga studios throughout Denver are seeing an increase in yoga nidra classes, in which participants flow through poses, breathing and flexibility — all laying down on the floor. Janie Gianotsos, who teaches at the Sama-
dhi Center for Yoga in north Denver, joked that she has a “monkey mind.” She found it difficult to concentrate while meditating. But in yoga nidra classes, she found the sense of relaxation she wanted. Classes involve a guided meditation as people lay on their backs on the floor. The meditation is meant to guide people into a rested state. The class helps people relax and connect with their bodies. “I noticed I could be quiet. I noticed I could rest,” Gianotsos said. “It allows your brain to truly slow down and rest.” Alyssa Gunn, a teacher at Kindness Collective, which has studios all over Denver, said practicing nidra has helped her control
her emotions better. “It’s the basis of all yoga,” said Gunn, who has been teaching the class for eight years. “It’s always bringing you back to center.” Gunn believes more people may be taking the class because they are realizing the benefits of relaxation. People are feeling burned out and depleted, and a yoga nidra session can help combat that, she added. “People need to learn to sit still and be with themselves,” Gunn said. “It’s a recognition that life doesn’t always need to be so dramatic.” Gianotsos agreed, saying yoga nidra helps bring people into a relaxed state similar to sleeping.
When Gunn first started teaching the class, few yoga studios offered nidra. Now, people can find classes at various studios almost every day of the week. For people who don’t want to try the class in the studio, several yoga nidra podcasts and recordings have the guided meditation similar to the classes, Gianotsos said. Even just listening to a nidra class or podcast can help people gain the relaxation benefits, Gianotos said. With constant messaging from phones and advertisements, the class is a way to help people “turn the volume down.” “You can’t do it wrong,” Gianotsos said. “If you can’t meditate, you can do this.”
RTD partners with Uber for trip planning A partnership announced Jan. 31 between the Regional Transportation District and the mobility platform Uber allows Denver riders to see and consider transit routes presented in the Uber app. Establishing partnerships with providers such as Uber enables the transit agency to best meet the needs, demands and expectations of a growing population at a time when the industry is in
a state of change, Dave Genova, RTD CEO and general manager, said in a news release. “Our customers want their trips to be as seamless as possible, and a collaboration like this one allows them to plan for travel from end to end, including additional first-mile and last-mile options,” Genova said in the release. “RTD is pleased to work with Uber as we present riders with additional, complementary options to most efficiently reach their destination.” To access transit information within the app,
riders enter a destination and select the “transit” option to see available transit routes, real-time schedules, and walking directions to and from transit stations. “This is Uber’s first in-app integration with public transit, and we’re excited it’s happening in Denver, thanks to our partnership with RTD,” David Reich, Uber’s head of transit, said in the release. “Uber shares many of the same goals as the cities we serve, and our team is committed to addressing the same challenges: reducing
individual car ownership, expanding transportation access with more options and working with transit agencies to innovate.” Trip planning is the first of two notable transit-related features being added to the Uber app. Soon, Denver riders will be able to purchase and use RTD tickets through the app. RTD and Uber will share details about that feature as they are solidified. Learn more at www.rtd-denver.com/uber. shtml.
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18 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
Basic principles help guide good garden design
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andscape design is an art unlike any other, as it is an ever-changing canvas that is both a functional space and an expression of artistic design. We must consider the ecology and environment as well as more utilitarian aspects such as budget and traffic patterns. Most importantly, the gardens we create provide an inspirational reprieve from the artificial environments where we live and work. A fundamental principle used by all disciplines of design is “form follows function.” This simply means that good design is driven by the function of the space. A perfect example of the disregard for this concept is a path that goes nowhere. To avoid this kind of mistake, you must first take inventory of the space. What plants and features (patios, walkways, turf areas) exist and are in good shape? Second, assess the function of the space as it is currently: Do the current pathways adequately address the traffic patterns? What is the goal of the project (space to entertain, BBQ area, cutting garden, etc.)? What needs are not being met? With project goals in mind, you can begin to identify where the trees and shrubs are needed. Screening views, the need for shade and accent or showcase plants will largely determine where you place trees and shrubs. Be sure to consider the location of existing electrical wires and nearby structures. When estimating spacing, take into consideration the mature size of the plant
(or at least two-thirds mature size) and plan accordingly. Once you decide placement of the trees and shrubs, visualize the bed lines and fill in spaces with colorful perennials and annuals. Choosing the right plants is critical in the success of your garden. You may want to plant a tree but what type of tree will do best? Understanding the growing conditions (full sun, shade, dry soil, direction the bed faces, etc.). You don’t want to use plants with thorns or prickly leaves next to the children’s play area. A useful resource for plants that thrive in our region is the Plant Select program. Plant Select is a program through Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens in collaboration with the Colorado green industry to identify tough plants that thrive in our region. The website (https://plantselect.org) has many wonderful plants with descriptions and growing needs, all of which are relatively easy to grow and tough enough to withstand the Colorado weather. Do thorough research and visit Denver Botanic Gardens to identify the plants you like best and note the growing conditions (sun, shade, etc.). Trees and shrubs provide the backbone of the garden in winter so be sure to include them in your design. There are many with colorful stems and beautiful bark that add winter interest.
GUEST COLUMN Annie Barrow
Grasses can provide excellent movement and structure in the winter landscape. Some perennials have fall color or seed heads that persist in winter and can be left up in the winter. When possible, wait to cut back perennials until spring. Be aware that winter can take a toll on grasses and seed heads, therefore you may prefer to cut back after a heavy snow. Use repeating elements in the design to create cohesion and unity. For example, if you love chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata), use it more than once in your design. Planting in groupings is typically more visually impactful than using single plants. Avoid contrived elements such as plantings in a ring around a tree or water features with stones arranged around the edge to cover up lining, which appears as anything but natural. Using an informal arrangement allows for mistakes to be less obvious and curved beds can create interest. Garden design can be a process of trial and error. Take the time to think through your design but don’t be afraid to try things out and see what happens. The more you plant, the more you learn and grow! Annie Barrow is manager of Horticulture Outreach Programs at Denver Botanic Gardens. She can be reached at horticulture@denverbotanicgardens.org.
A great trick to visualize your new garden is to use a hose to lay out the beds. COURTESY PHOTO
State’s first autonomous shuttle launches in Denver Vehicle now deployed at RTD’s 61st and Pena commuter-rail station Staff report The state’s first autonomous vehicle shuttle can now connect RTD passengers from the 61st and Peña commuter rail station to the Panasonic and EasyMile offices and to the 61st and Peña Park-n-Ride lot via four stops. The EasyMile 100 percent electric, autonomous shuttle made its debut Jan. 29 and will continue operating for four to six months. Regional Transportation District’s General Manager and CEO Dave Genova and Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock joined representatives from EasyMile, Panasonic, Transdev, and
L.C. Fulenwider Inc. for a ribbon cutting and ride aboard the self-driving unit. “We’re excited to see how driverless technology will work in Denver and to embrace new, innovative and better mobility options to move more people and improve travel for residents and visitors alike,” Hancock said in a news release. Transdev will operate the EasyMile autonomous shuttle for the RTD in a new route called 61AV, serving people who park and live near the 61st and Peña commuter rail station. The project’s main goal is to assess the viability of autonomous services in providing first and last mile connections to and from transit. “RTD is pleased to participate in this groundbreaking partnership to explore how innovations in mobility are creating new and expanded opportunities for public transportation,” Genova said in the release. “The 61AV partnership allows us to interface directly with
an autonomous vehicle demonstration and assess how this technology can be applied in a transit setting to meet the future mobility needs of the people and communities we serve.” The shuttle will run a predetermined route Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., making a complete loop every 15 minutes. Although it will not have a driver, an ambassador will be on the shuttle to help answer questions and ensure safety for the passengers and operations. Transdev will provide the ambassador for the RTD service. Partners in this AV demonstration project believe autonomous shuttle services will transform local communities and become an integral part of how communities are designed in the future. The EasyMile shuttle will be programmed to make designated stops along predetermined routes. It runs an average speed of 12-15 mph and can carry up to 12 passengers.
The autonomous vehicle demonstration project is approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the newlyformed Colorado Autonomous Vehicle Task Force for six months of operations. Data collected on usage and operability will be shared between project partners to improve future deployments and bring autonomous services into wider usage. EasyMile says its shuttle and operating system have been tested and verified over 200,000 miles in 22 counties, and have transported more than 320,000 people with no accidents or injuries. The shuttles have air conditioning, automatic wheelchair ramps, passenger information systems, electric batteries and onboard USB chargers. Passenger feedback on all of these deployments has been extremely positive. More information about the Route 61AV project is at www.rtd-denver.com/61AV. shtml.
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Life On Capitol Hill 19
March 2019
‘WOMEN ARE
SELF DEFENSE TIPS
especially
POWERFUL’
Participants learn self-defense moves in a class taught by the Denver Police Department. The department has been offering the classes since 2010. COURTESY OF DENVER POLICE
After nearly a decade of offering self defense, interest still increasing By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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or nearly 10 years, Sgt. Noel Ikeda with the Denver Police Department has been teaching women the skills they need to protect themselves in the event of an assault. But for Ikeda, it’s also about teaching women to embrace the strength they’ve always had. “Women are especially powerful,” he said. “My hope is that they’re empowered — they’re empowered with the fact that they’re confident, that they know that they are powerful.” In 2010, Police Chief Paul Pazen, who was a lieutenant with District 1 in northwest Denver at the time, came to Ikeda with the idea to offer free self-defense classes for women. Ikeda has more than 20 years of experience teaching martial arts and is certified to teach Krav Maga, a form of martial art he teaches at the Denver Police Academy. The Denver police started the classes, Ikeda said assaults against women were increasing, and DPD wanted to help provide women with a way to defend themselves. Since then, Ikeda said the class has become an “ever-evolving” staple for the police department. What started as a two-hour class became four hours with classroom time on crime prevention and learning different Krav Maga techniques. Over time, the police department also began offering more classes — from one class per quarter to six a year. Since 2010, between 3,000 and 4,000 women have taken the class, Ikeda said. In 2018, 1,000 women participated, an increase from 650 the year before, a growing interest that Ikeda attributes to the #MeToo movement. Classes have been filling up quickly, he said. Now, the class is offered for free, once a month, for Denver residents. The five-hour class starts with a 90-minute presentation talking about crime statistics and what
women can do to prevent becoming a victim of an assault. Often, lone women are first targeted for crimes such as robbery, and the perpetrator sees an opportunity for rape or sexual assault, Ikeda said. He recommended people don’t leave personal information in their cars or walk by themselves in dark alleys. Even simple things like changing your daily routine can prevent people from being the target of a crime, he said. Paying attention to your surroundings, as well as listening to your instinct, is also key. The remainder of the class is spent on the mat, learning some of the techniques taught to recruits at the Denver Police Academy. Ikeda added that the classes have been fluid, adding specific types of moves after getting feedback from women who have taken the class. “Any evals we get, we are always listening,” Ikeda said. “We always want to improve these particular classes.” Throughout his years of teaching the class, Ikeda has had an important sidekick join him — his 18-year-old daughter. Ikeda, who has 32 years of martial arts experience, started teaching his daughter martial arts when she was 7. She started volunteering at the DPD classes five years ago at 13. Bringing his daughter along helped show women their own strengths. “I’m 6 feet tall. What is a 6-foot-tall Asian male going to teach (these women) in self defense?” he said. “But when you look at my daughter, who’s maybe 5 feet 5 inches, maybe 120 pounds, and she’s yelling and screaming, they look at her and they say `If she can do it, I can do it.’ ” Part of his motivation for teaching the class was to help his daughter learn about empowerment and to show her that women are also strong and capable of fighting back. He hopes that women will pass on their knowledge from the class. As a child, Ikeda came from an immigrant family who spoke Japanese and eventually learned English. Learning martial arts helped teach him confidence, he said. Teaching the self-defense class with the DPD is one way he can pay it forward. “Martial arts and self-defense has provided me with a tremendous amount of benefits and I just want to pass that on,” Ikeda said. “The confidence that comes out of a class, that’s rewarding in and of itself.”
TO LEARN MORE For more information on the classes, follow the Denver Police Department on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ denverpolice/.
The department announces the classes on that page. DPD also puts class information on Twitter and NextDoor. The classes are held in different recreation centers during the year.
20 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
Yes, you can still call for time and temperature Internet age continues to feature some holdouts from old-school ways By David Gilbert dgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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hen was the last time you picked up the phone and called to hear the time and temperature? If you’re a Denver-area oldtimer, you might remember dialing 303-8444444 to hear the phone company’s time-andtemp line (though you probably didn’t dial the area code back then). The line is back in service these days, thanks to John Lochridge, a Texas telecom worker. Since 2011, Lochridge has been steadily buying up and reinstating old time-andtemperature lines around the country. He’s up to several hundred numbers, spread among nearly every state. Lochridge’s Denver line gets about a thousand calls a month, he said. “In a world where things are changing a lot, people like having things that stay the same,” Lochridge said by phone from his home in Dallas. “There’s a lot of nostalgia that comes with this. It’s something from childhood.” Lochridge’s lines are just some of perhaps thousands of recorded information lines that once provided everything from movie times to prayers across the country. Though many have died out in the Internet Age, some survive. Old folks might find it easier to get their info the old-fashioned way, Lochridge said, but some callers have a deeper connection.
The earliest time and temperature lines required an operator to stare at a clock and read off every minute of every day over a phone line. COURTESY PHOTO
MAKE A CALL
Time and temperature lines date back to the early 20th century and reflected increasing urbanization and industrialization, said Jim Hebbeln, a volunteer with the Telecommunication History Group. DAVID GILBERT “One lady told me she used to call the timeand-temperature while her husband was away at war, to hear a human voice,” Lochridge said. “Another told me she called while she was lonely in the hospital, just to hear someone over the phone.” Weather or not Other local lines have lots of devoted users. Elaine Huff is one of them. “I’m not real tech savvy, but I love keeping up with the weather,”
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Huff, 78, said. She fell in love with the big thunderheads that rolled over her Nebraska farm as a girl, she said. Even today, from her Littleton condo, Huff picks up the phone — sometimes three times a day when the weather’s wild — and punches in 303-337-2500. “Welcome to the Weatherline Forecast Service, brought to you by the Denver Post.” Unchanged in format for decades, the Weatherline reads the time, temperature, and after an ad, a weather forecast updated several times a day by meteorologist Tim Root. The line still gets 50,000-75,000 calls a month, said Brian Trujillo, the Denver Post’s circulation manager, who runs the line. The service has credibility, said Root, chief meteorologist and owner of Florida-based Weather Watch Service, who records twicedaily forecasts for Denver and dozens of other lines around the country. “I’m not some automated aggregator website,” Root said. “I’m a real meteorologist. Callers trust a human interpretation — a human voice.” Callback to another era Information lines have their origins in the early days of widespread telephone use, said Jim Hebbeln, a volunteer at the Telecommunications History Group, a Denver-based nonprofit that preserves the heritage of the American telecom industry. Being able to accurately set clocks became more important as America grew more urban and industrial in the early 20th century, Hebbeln said, as people increasingly needed to catch trains and arrive at work at a set time. “So many people would call just asking the time, that big cities would have one operator whose job was just to stare at a clock and read off the time all day,” Hebbeln said. Automatic recordings came along in the late 1940s, Hebbeln said, where a machine would “read” recorded times and temperatures off a series of magnetic tapes on successive drums. “Even nowadays, those recorded lines can be important, because they’re less susceptible to failure or sabotage” than electronic media, Hebbeln said. It’s still storytime Some recorded lines are still on the grow. Many libraries long ago ditched their dial-astory lines, where callers could hear a record-
Some of the Denver area’s recorded lines: • Weatherline Forecast Service: 303-337-2500 • Time and temperature: 303-844-4444 • National Weather Service Dial-A-Forecast: 303-494-4221 x1 • Denver Public Library Phone-A-Story: 720865-8500 • Unity Spiritual Center Prayer Line: 303-7576761 Odds and ends: • Dial An Old-Time Radio Show: 972-889-2687 • Daily Word Bible Readings: 706-855-9673 • Jenny in North Carolina (recognize the number?): 919-867-5309 • Rickroll Hotline: 248-434-5508 ing of a children’s story, but Denver Public Library’s has never been better, said Alberto Pellicer, who runs DPL’s Phone-A-Story at 720-865-8500. Up from four options a couple years ago, the line currently offers nine options to callers, with stories, songs riddles and rhymes in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Amharic — the primary language of the Denver area’s large Ethiopian population. The line is getting more than 2,000 calls a month, Pellicer said, up from about 300 a month a few years ago. “You can be in line at the grocery store or driving to Kansas,” Pellicer said. “It makes me proud that people want to encourage their kids to listen to stories and be involved with books and characters.” Callers can leave a voicemail requesting stories, Pellicer said, and staff try to update the line at least once a week. Teachers and home-school parents have told him they’ve devised activities around PhoneA-Story, like having kids call but hang up before the end of the story to write their own. “We work to ensure the stories are good for building vocabulary, and we hope it encourages kids to come to their local library and pick out a book,” Pellicer said. Unlike YouTube, Phone-A-Story is guaranteed to provide kids with thoughtful, enlightening content, Pellicer said. Library staff are kicking around ideas to expand the line to more languages and options, Pellicer said. “Callers enjoy it, and we enjoy producing it,” Pellicer said. “We hope to stick around for a long time.”
March 2019
Submit calendar listings on our website, coloradocommunitymedia.com, go to the Calendar tab and click “Submit an Event.” Priority is given to non-profits, lowor no-cost events and locations within our distribution map. Next Issue Deadline: Thursday, March 14
EVENTS Spark! 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 5 In partnership with the Colorado chapter of the SPARK! Alzheimer’s Association, Denver Botanic Gardens offers an opportunity for participants with mild memory loss to enjoy handson garden related projects. The SPARK program integrates the participants multiple senses to inspire creativity and engagement. Free, registration required. One registration includes participant and their care provider. 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org Women Powering Change 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 Women Powering Change hosts more than 1,000 community members, leaders, activists and philanthropists coming together with social change organizations that support women or are run by women. EXDO Event Center 1399 35th St. WomenPoweringChange.org Growing with Gratitude 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 This class is an exploration of Naikan, or “looking inside.” Explore practical ways to become more aware of blessings that often go unseen even when in plain view. Take home exercises to help open heart and mind to the peace available in our worlds. $18, $15 member 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org XQ Super School Live 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 XQ and Pop-Up Magazine Productions present XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE, a new, one-of-a-kind, immersive storytelling tour. Expect a night of high school drama full of stories, selfie confessionals, viral gratitude, and multimedia adventures that celebrate the everyday heroes transforming America’s high schools. Ogden Theatre 935 E. Colfax Ave. XQ.live Tree Diversity Conference 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 8 To protect our urban forests, which
Things to Do are threatened by pests and pathogens, a greater variety of tree species is necessary. The sixth annual conference explores the relationships between landscape design, horticultural practices and the use of a greater variety of tree species. Speakers have experience in worldwide plant exploration, landscape design, promoting new plant materials, administration of some of our country’s most noted horticultural conferences and institutions and hands-on experience with plant testing and data collection. $80, $70 Gardens and Colorado Tree Coalition members, includes lunch 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org Robert Anderson Gallery/ Month of Photography: Small Works 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 8 As part of the Month of Photography celebration in Denver, the Robert Anderson Gallery hosted a national/international competition for small photographic pieces. Over 700 images were submitted for consideration by two jurors who narrowed the group down to 62 photos for display at the gallery from March 8 through April 27. March 8 is the opening reception for the exhibition. Awards will be given out that evening for the top pieces and the jurors’ favorites. This event is open to the public. Robert Anderson Gallery 1278 Adams St. robertandersongallery.com Happy Hour Chamber Concerts: An Evening with Zachary Carrettín 6 to 7:15 p.m. Friday, March 8 Plan on enjoying a remarkable evening of beautiful music and new insights into the intricacies of early music performance. Tickets: $15/$13 in advance; $17/$15 at the door. Epiphany Lutheran Church 790 S. Corona St. happyhourconcerts.org/buy-tickets Family Overnight: Spring into Science 6 p.m Friday, March 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9 Spend a memorable night experiencing the magic of springtime in Colorado with your whole family! After dinner, take a dino egg hunt through the Museum, make your own plant to grow at home, watch a planetarium show, and experiment, explore, and engage in hands-on fun for everyone. Then sleep among the animals in our renowned wildlife diorama halls. Wake up to breakfast and an IMAX screening. 303-370-6000 Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Blvd. dmns.org
Veterans Free Monthly Non-Narcotic Care Pop Up Clinic 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9 Healing Warriors Program (HWP) offers free non-narcotic clinic therapy for pain and PTS on the 2nd Saturday of the month in Denver at VFW Post 1 for all service members and spouse/partner/parent. Therapies include Acupuncture, CranioSacral Therapy and Healing Touch Therapy. Please bring proof of military service, i.e. DD214 or military ID. VFW Post 1, 841 Santa Fe Dr. healingwarriorsprogram.org Family Workshop: Leprechaun Gardens 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 17 Discover the legend of the leprechaun as you design and create a miniature garden to attract these mischievous garden friends. Each child will create a container garden to take home. Workshops offer families a hands-on opportunity to learn about the science and enchantment behind the plants in our everyday lives, create tasty treats from scratch and explore the natural world. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10. All adults attending the workshop must register for the program. Non-participating siblings do not participate in the activities. $18, $15 member 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org Hands-On History Family Fun Day 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9 On the second Saturday of each month, families have the opportunity to explore and create their own history, art, and culture through hands-on, immersive activities like adobe brick making, building log cabins, live performances, and role playing in our exhibits. 303-HISTORY History Colorado 1200 Broadway Active Minds: The Future of Bees 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 9 Found on every continent except Antarctica, bees are vital pollinators, making possible much of the food humans eat. In recent years, however, crucial bee species have experienced significant loss. Since the 1990s, the bumblebee population has plunged almost 90 percent. Additionally, since 2006, a malady called Colony Collapse Disorder has afflicted honeybee populations. Join Active Minds as we dive into the world of bees and examine the factors that are affecting these important species. 303-370-6000 Central Library 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. denverlibrary.org
Votes for Women Tea 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, March 9 and March 23 The relationship between tea and the path to women’s suffrage was intertwined into many facets of the movement. The Center for Colorado Women’s History wants to honor these gatherings by hosting a Votes for Women Tea! After a tour of the restored home of the Byers and Evans families, we’ll convene in the tea room to enjoy a three-course tea with fresh fruit, scones, and muffins. 303- 620-4933 Center for Colorado Women’s History at Byers-Evans House 1310 Bannock St. historycolorado.org Breaking Down Cancer by Building with Your Hands 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9 Using the Anatomy in Clay® Learning System, students will improve their health awareness by building relevant portions of human anatomy in clay on scale model skeletons. All are welcome. Space is limited. Registrations will be taken until one week before each session (March 2 for the March 9 workshop). To register, contact Mary Bahus-Meyer at 800-950-5025 or MaryB@ anatomyinclay.com. Anatomy in Clay Centers 2207 S. Delaware St. Skean Dubh Doors at 7 p.m., Show at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9 Skean Dubh is an acoustic Celtic band, in the Colorado Rocky Mountain region. Unforgettable vocals, Uilleann bag piping, and fiery fiddle. Tickets: $10 – $12; All sales are final Swallow Hill Music - Tuft Theatre 71 E. Yale Ave. eventbrite.com/e/skean-dubhtickets-55289149334 Ireland Forever! An Irish Tour of Denver Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10 Join Tom “Dr. Colorado” Noel and former Denver City Auditor Dennis Gallagher for an annual tour tradition! We’ll start with libations and a Celtic meal and enjoy a slideshow about Colorado’s Irish landmark people and buildings. Afterward, board our deluxe coach for a grand driving tour by such places as the Mullen family residences and associated landmarks, Mary Coyle Chase house, Campion mansion site, St. Patrick’s Church for a visit with the Sisters and their holy cookies, the beautiful Holy Ghost Church and much more! Denver Go Bragh! Includes one drink ticket, a light lunch, all guides and bus transportation. 303-HISTORY History Colorado 1200 Broadway historycolorado.org
Life On Capitol Hill 21
Stories on Stage presents “I Love a Mystery” 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10 Celebrating their 18th Season, Stories on Stage presents renowned actors performing dynamic and entertaining short stories. Single tickets are $15 - $28 303-494-0523 Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center 721 Santa Fe Dr. storiesonstage.org Sisters of Courage 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, March 11 Join Dave Lively as he follows one family through the turmoil of the last half of the 19th century. The Civil War, Westward Expansion, and the Panic of 1893 all take on new meaning with this story of their impact on the Harbison family. Buffeted by the winds of national events, the family started their life all over as Annie and Kittie Harbison homesteaded in a peaceful mountain valley. Come and enjoy their story, leading up to the development (and underdevelopment) of Rocky Mountain National Park. 303- 620-4933 Center for Colorado Women’s History at Byers-Evans House 1310 Bannock St. historycolorado.org Guided Sitting Meditation: First Noble Truth 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 The First Noble Truth reminds us of the inevitability of life. Pain and suffering come from myriad sources: emotional, physical, spiritual. Mindfulness offers an opportunity to lean into pain without resistance or expectation. $18, $15 member 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org SEE THINGS TO DO, P22
22 Life On Capitol Hill
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March 2019
Things to Do
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How to Speak so Men Will Listen 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 14 Katherine McGraw Patterson, better known as KP, has been an entrepreneur, consultant, and business coach for women for almost 20 years. In this program, KP will help us understand the communication differences between men and women so that women aren’t left feeling unheard and undervalued in business settings. The Commons on Champa 1245 Champa St., Room 2. abwa-denverdowntown.org Science Riot 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 14 Cheer on local scientists turned comedians as they attempt standup for the first time and wax hilarious about the unique nuances of their work. This one-of-a-kind comedy night for science fans will get you laughing with (and at!) some of the biggest brains in town. Ages 18+. Cash bar. All sales are final unless the Museum cancels the event. 303-370-6000 Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Blvd. dmns.org
MARCH
APRIL
Face Vocal Band with the Colorado Symphony MAR 9 SAT 7:30
HalfNotes
Christopher Dragon, conductor
APR 6 SAT 6:00
Brahms Symphony No. 4
FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00
APR 12-14 FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00
Peter Oundjian, conductor
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert with the Colorado Symphony MAR 23-24 SAT-SUN 2:00 1STBANK Center, Broomfeild, CO Tickets: altitudetickets.com
Brett Mitchell, conductor Peter Cooper, oboe
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture & Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky APR 26-28 FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00 Rossen Milanov, conductor Avery Amereau, mezzo-soprano Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition MAR 29-31
Colorado Symphony Ball Fillmore Auditorium
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 MAR 15-17
APR 4 THU 7:30 Christopher Dragon, conductor Tracksuit Wedding
Peter and the Wolf Featuring Magic Circle Mime Co. MAR 10 SUN 2:30
Women of Rock
FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00
Brett Mitchell, conductor Augustin Hadelich, violin
HalfNotes Please join us for family-friendly activities 1 hour before the concert. These performances include FULL SCREENING OF THE FEATURE FILM! presenting sponsors
also supported by
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
Gobs O’Phun XXV St. Pat’s Concet 8 p.m. Friday, March 15 Gobs O’Phun traditional Irish folk with special guest musicians: Chris Daniels (from the Kings), Rich Moore (from the Mollie O’Brien Band), Peggy Fasing (formerly with CO symphony), Harry Tuft (Legendary “Godfather of Folk”), plus more… All Ages. General Admission Tickets: $12 In Advance Online / $15 At the Door. Highlands United Methodist Church 3131 Osceola St. gobsophun.brownpapertickets.com LEGO Building Workshop 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16 Build (and keep!) your own Colorado-style LEGO® set, then take a special guided museum tour based on your creation. The kit includes a colorful airshow jet plane toy plus a pilot minifigure. The set will take about 30 minutes to build and is best for ages 5-12. Cost is $35 (members pay $30) and includes one adult and one child museum admission as well as the LEGOs and instructions in the kit. 303-HISTORY History Colorado 1200 Broadway Women’s History in the Classroom 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16 As K-12 social studies educators increasingly look to incorporate overlooked figures and stories into their curriculum, the Center for
Colorado Women’s History can serve as a wonderful resource for telling the stories of women in our state. Join Kelly Rogers Denzler, a local secondary educator and Center for Colorado Women’s History fellow, to discover what resources exist at the center and how they may be easily incorporated into an existing history curriculum. 303-HISTORY History Colorado 1200 Broadway Alebrijes: Fantastic Zoology of a Dream Alebrijes: Zoologia Fantastica de un Sueño 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16 Take an in-depth look at alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures currently on display at the Museum. Artist and anthropologist Oscar Becerra of Mexico City will share the history and context of these fantastical creatures. El Alebrije: Una historia en común was brought to Denver in collaboration with the Museo de Arte Popular of Mexico City and the Mexican Cultural Center of Denver, with support from the Consulate General of Mexico. 303-370-6000 Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Blvd. dmns.org Bumblebee Jamboree 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23 This unique musical experience is perfect for children ages 0-12 and their parents. Children are invited to dress as a favorite pollinator such as a bee, butterfly or bird and dance and sing along with the musical guests. The March concert features Eric West. $13 adult, $11 member adult, $8 child, $6 member child, free for children 2 and younger 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org Family Workshop: Plants in your Pizza 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 25 You can put almost anything on a pizza! Learn about the plants that make this favorite Italian dish possible. Make a mini pizza to taste in class and plant a pizza herb garden to take home. Family Workshops are a great way for families to spend time together while discovering the diversity and importance of plants. Workshops offer families a hands-on opportunity to learn about the science and enchantment behind the plants in our everyday lives, create tasty treats from scratch and explore the natural world. Classes are designed for families with children ages 5-10. Preregistration is required and class size is limited. $17 non-member child; $15 member child; $12 non-member adult, $10 member adult 720-865-3500 Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York St. botanicgardens.org SEE THINGS TO DO, P23
Life On Capitol Hill 23
March 2019
Things to Do FROM PAGE 22
Fijian Album: A Bailey Lecture Film Like No Other 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28 Former Museum director Alfred M. Bailey conducted fieldwork around the world during the mid-20th century. He shared his adventures during a popular film lecture series, making armchair travel possible long before the internet. Bailey’s “Fijian Album” film was made before the first commercial flight to Fiji occurred in 1951. Bailey’s notes and field journals were used to create a new script, read by Dave Baysinger, a friend of Bailey’s and the Museum’s videographer for more than 40 years. 303-370-6000 Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Blvd. dmns.org
East Evans Business Association Meeting Meets every 4th Tuesday This meeting provides a great opportunity for local businesses to meet, network and raise awareness of what’s happening on the East Evans corridor. 303-671-6639 Panorama Building, 2055 S. Oneida St. Chamberlin Observatory Public Night Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 p.m. All public nights start with an informative, multimedia astronomy presentation. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for kids and is payable online via PayPal. Reservations are recommended, as nights sell out. Times vary by season. Observatory Park 2930 E. Warren Ave. denverastro.org/das/public-nights
Comedy with Roger Mondays 10 p.m. 303-320-9200 Lion’s Lair, 2022 E. Colfax Ave. lionslairco.com/events
Why Not Wednesday Wednesdays 4 p.m. We open wines that most stores wouldn’t dare to open. Whether it’s grand cru champagne, cult cabernet or an amazing bottle of Amarone. Find out what the wine of the week is on our website! 303-282-5103 Pearl Wine Company, 1886 S. Pearl St. pearlwinecompany.com
Baker Historic Neighborhood Association General Meeting 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month. As always, we will hear from our Community Resource Officer from Denver Police and learn about different items impacting Baker. Come a little early to socialize and meet some fellow Bakerties. Hirschfeld Tower, 333 W. Ellsworth Ave. bakerneighborhood.org
Friends and Neighbors (FANS) of Washington Park 6 p.m., second Wednesday of each month Meetings typically include a brief overview of the latest park news and often feature a guest speaker. Check out the website for the topic of the month. Washington Park Dos Chappell Bath House, 600 S. Marion Parkway fanswashingtonpark.org
Denver GOP First Friday Breakfast First Friday of the month 7 a.m. Great speakers and conservative camaraderie. This months speakers are Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams and Denver Clerk & Recorder. Please RSVP and order breakfast to support Pete’s. 303-782-9555 Pete’s Greek Town Cafe 2910 E. Colfax Ave. www.denvergop.org House District 2 Democratic Party Meeting Third Saturday of the month Monthly meeting covering business/topics at hand. 303-830-8242 Washington Street Community Center, 809 S. Washington St. www.denverdemocrats.org
ART Month of Photography Show at Niza Knoll Gallery On display through March 22 “3631: A Solo Cycling Journey Across America” chronicles Randall Sampson’s trip to the lonely reaches of the northern United States and Ontario, Canada via photographs and written narrative. Niza Knoll Gallery 915 Santa Fe Dr. nizaknollgallery.com Stampede Public Tours Occurs every day through May 19 In this daily 45-minute tour, see how animals have captivated artists throughout history in “Stampede: Animals in Art.” Discover
Life On
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and consider the role animals play through themes such as personal connections with animals, how animal materials have been used in art, how animals are used to tell stories or represent political ideas, and how artists use animals in imaginative ways. No reservations necessary. Meet on level 1 of the Hamilton Building. 720-865-5000 Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway denverartmuseum.org DaVinci X – The Machines & You Exhibition Hours:Monday Closed for Groups and Private Events, Tuesday through Saturday – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday – Noon till 5 p.m. Guided Tour Times – (Subject to Docent Availability) 1 p.m. Weekdays 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Weekends The DaVinci Machines Exhibition displaying hand-crafted inventions built from Leonardo’s 500 year old designs brought to life. DaVinci X Exhibition, Located on the 2nd Floor of the Denver Pavilions – Suite 268 Take Escalator to 2nd Floor Next to Henry’s Tavern at 16th and Welton Check Mall Directories As Well discoverdavinci.com Clyfford Still Museum Free Day Last Friday of every month In appreciation supporters of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SFCD), and in the spirit of community engagement, the Museum offers free admission on the last Friday of every month. 720-354-4880 Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St.
24 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
Denver venues break out photos for Month of Photography 15-year tradition spurs artists and galleries to try new things By Casey Van Divier caseyvandivier@yahoo.com
NATHAN & THE ZYDECO CHA CHAS Sun 03.03 7pm $22 advance
ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL W/ HALDEN WOFFORD & THE HI*BEAMS
@ The Oriental Theater
Sat 03.16 8pm $34 advance
LAURA VEIRS Sat 03.16 8pm $20 advance
MASTERS OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC Sat 03.23 8pm $28 advance
ROBYN HITCHCOCK Sat 03.30 8pm $27 advance
SWALLOWHILLMUSIC.ORG
When Paul Brokering approached Denver’s Space Gallery years ago, he knew the gallery showed very little photography. But he had a plan to win over gallery owner Michael Burnett: showing him photographs of what Burnett calls “just concrete.” “But I was like `Wow, these are beautiful,’ ” Burnett said with a laugh. “We didn’t show a lot of photography, but he still beat down our doors. Eventually, I relented and showed his work.” Since then, Space Gallery has featured Brokering’s photography on many occasions. His latest show, “Rear View Mirror” — named for his tendency to circle back and photograph the eye-catching scenes he drives past — will be held by Space Gallery this March as part of Denver’s Month of Photography. Held every other year, the Month of Photography, or MoP, invites venues all over the city to hold photography exhibits. The majority of the shows will be free and open to the public, said MoP founder Mark Sink. “It’s art for art’s sake,” he said. “Signing up is free, listings are free. It’s an amazing resource for photographers.” A month of firsts A local artist himself, Sink founded the event in 2004. Since then, he has worked to keep the event fun and easy for anyone who wants to participate. “I have idea and planning meetings starting a year before in my backyard,” he said. “Galleries around Denver get very excited, and then the word travels for other galleries to jump aboard.” Several local galleries have opted to make their MoP debut this year, including Station 16 Gallery, Modern Nomad and JuiceBox Gallery. Meanwhile, for those who have previously participated, Denver’s MoP offers a chance to turn March into a month of firsts, creating a one-of-a-kind viewing experience for the Denver community. For Burnett, MoP is an ideal opportunity to unveil Space Gallery’s second location, the Space ANNEX, at 95 S. Cherokee St. Brokering’s MoP display, which will run from March 29 to May 4, will be the first show in the new location. “This is really the first time that people will see the new space finished, and we’re obviously super excited to show it off,” Burnett said. The show includes 13 typologies, grids of 25 images taken by Brokering, as well as 13 enlarged versions of images taken from the typologies. Each typology incorporates a different color, Burnett said, so that the work “portrays this rainbow as you look through the show.” Though Brokering has experimented with typologies before, “Rear View Mirror” will be his first show displaying this technique. “I think it’ll be a cheery kind of thing, almost like a puzzle. It’s a fascinating way to see things quickly,” Brokering said. “You can have 25 stories going on at one time but yet, because they’re all the same color, they become
As part of the show at Walker Fine Art, Russell Brown simulates elemental experiences, such as falling rain, through the use of augmented reality. COURTESY OF LIBBY GARON a different story.” While the Space Gallery exhibit will focus on color, down at Walker Fine Art artists will show their work inspired by the elements. Several of the six featured photographers are showing with Walker for the first time, including guest artist Russell Brown, creative director of Adobe Systems. Brown’s display, an augmented reality installation simulating the elements, will kick off the show at 300 W. 11th Ave. on March 8. The show will run through April 20. “The show does well to bring together different arts and different practices, all under this umbrella of the elements,” said local photographer Conor King. Though King has shown work and curated shows for prior MoPs, this will be his first with Walker Fine Art. King’s work highlights the element of water, representing the story of a rogue wave that shattered the lens of a lighthouse in Ireland. His display will use photography to depict the shattered lens and layer video footage of different waves, among other methods. For gallery manager Libby Garon, Brown’s and King’s works represent the way MoP encourages the gallery to think outside its typical methods. “We rarely do shows of just photography, so it gets us out of our usual themes,” she said. “It makes us think differently about our artists and the potential of our space.” Becoming a part of the MoP Garon added that this year, Walker Fine Art will make it easy for viewers to develop their own photography skills with a workshop held by photographer Bonny Lhotka on March 16. “If people are really loving the viewing part
IF YOU GO As part of Denver’s Month of Photography, Space Gallery and Walker Fine Art will show new photographic work to the public: • Space Gallery’s “Rear View Mirror” featuring Paul Brokering will open at 6 p.m. on March 29 at Space ANNEX, 95 S. Cherokee St. The show will run through May 4.
• Walker Fine Art’s “Elements” features the work of Russell Brown, Conor King, Bonny Lhotka, Kevin Hoth, Robert Buelteman and Jane Fulton Alt. The show opens at 5 p.m. on March 8 at the Walker Fine Art Gallery, 300 W. 11th Ave., and runs through April 20. Information on additional shows in the area is available at www.mopdenver.com.
of art and need a more hands-on experience, that would be a great way to do it,” Garon said. Meanwhile, the community can also get involved simply by attending nearby shows. Those interested can visit www.mopdenver. com to find a calendar listing upcoming events and examples of the work each gallery will be displaying. Having announced that 2019 will be his “last year at the MoP helm” — the 2019 show will be spearheaded at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center — Sink said he hoped his final MoP will “inspire, educate and bring the community together.” “We’ve discovered some amazing work this year,” he said. “Community is a keyword. We’re bringing the world closer together through photography.”
Life On Capitol Hill 25
March 2019
Skip the will power — it’s Girl Scout Cookie time By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
From saving for an island vacation to purchasing new uniforms, Girl Scouts have big plans for their cookie sales money. “Girl Scouts is all about being girl-led,” said Darby Petitt, a troop leader for nine years who has two daughters in Girl Scouts. “It’s always fun to see how and what they choose their Girl Scout experience to look like.” The Girl Scout Cookies Program helps girls develop five lifelong skills — goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics. “Girl Scout Cookie time is all about teaching girls lifelong business skills,” said Stephanie Foote, president and CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado, in a press release. “The proceeds from these girl-led businesses go to fund all the adventures you get to have as a Girl Scout.” Denver resident Bianca Morris, 9, has been a Girl Scout for two years and is selling cookies for the second time. “Everyone loves cookies,” she said. “They’re delicious.” But you can only get them at one time during the year, Morris added. She said she is most looking forward to booth sales because she enjoys talking with the people who are out shopping. Morris has a goal to sell 1,000 packages of cookies. She and the other 10 girls in her troop are going to spend some their cookie money to purchase supplies for the troop, save some of it for a future trip and donate some of it to local schools that have a population of children who are disabled.
WANT COOKIES? HERE’S HOW TO GET THEM! Girl Scouts across Colorado started selling cookies on Feb. 3. The last day to grab a box will be March 10. Girl Scouts will be going door-to-door, but consumers can also purchase cookies from booths set up in front of major retail and grocery stores. The Cookie Locator online or mobile app can help people find local booth sales locations. Sales can also be done online through the Digital Cookie, but to purchase cookies online you need an invite to shop on a Girl Scout’s personal Digital Cookie website. This year’s selection of cookies is Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos, Savannah Smiles and a limited quantity of S’mores and Toffee-tastics. All Girl Scout cookies contain zero grams of trans fat per serving, Thin Mints are vegan, Do-Si-Dos and Trefoils have no hydrogeReagan Petitt, 13, who lives in Highlands Ranch, has been a Girl Scout for nine years. She enjoys cookie sales because she gets to meet new people, but also because it teaches her self-confidence, to accept the answer no when people don’t want to buy cookies and to set goals for herself. She and her sister Camryn, 10, who has been a Girl Scout for six years, each have a goal to sell 350 packages. The two expect that they’ll do some door-to-door sales together and booth sales with their individual troops. “I like talking to people, and I like trying to
REFUSE & REUSE
nated oils and Toffee-tastics are gluten-free. More information about Girl Scout Cookie ingredients can be found at www.littlebrownie.com. S’mores and Toffee-tastic sell for $5 a package and all other varieties cost $4 a package. Consumers can also purchase a package of cookies to donate to the individual Girl Scouts troops’ hometown hero. Each Girl Scout troop chooses a hometown hero — any local nonprofit organization or uniformed personnel — to honor by donating packages of Girl Scout cookies. The troops choose their hometown hero prior to the beginning of cookie sales, so to participate, remember to ask about the Hometown Heroes/Gift of Caring program. For more information on Girl Scout Cookie sales, visit www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org. get people to buy the cookies,” Camryn Petitt said. “And I like planning what to do with the money.” For the past few years, 15-year-old Makayla Kinard of Arvada has come close to meeting her goal of 2,000 boxes. “This year,” she said, “I’m going to hit that goal.” Kinard has been a Girl Scout for nine years and will use this year’s cookie money to attend Girl Scout Camp, as well as use a portion of it to fund her Gold Award project — she hopes to host her inaugural golf tournament, which
Bianca Morris, 9, is selling Girl Scout Cookies for the second time this year. She has been a Girl Scout for two years. COURTESY OF ROBIN MORRIS
become an annual event, this summer to benefit people who have Type 1 diabetes. Rhianna Dains, 14, of Westminster has been a Girl Scout for 10 years, and she and her troop of eight will be using their cookie sales money to pay for a troop trip to the Bahamas to scuba-dive. It started last year when the girls in the troop decided they wanted to get scuba-certified, Dains said. They did that, she said, and now they’re saving for the diving trip in the Bahamas in 2020. Cookie sales “is a fun experience for the whole troop because it’s something we can all get involved with,” Dains said. “We’re a team, and our troop can accomplish it together.”
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26 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
SUNPOWERED SHOPPING
Cherry Creek mall switches to solar, renovates spaces, welcomes new stores
By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com
T
The Cherry Creek Shopping Center has become popular with stores that got their start online, says Nick LeMasters, the general manager of the mall. Untuckit will be opening in the mall next door to Warby Parker, both are online-based stores. KAILYN LAMB
he Cherry Creek Shopping Center will flip the switch this month on a new set of solar panels being installed on the roof. Nick LeMasters, the general manager of the mall, said the amount of sun that Colorado gets, as well as changes to the industry, has made it cheaper to take the leap into using solar energy. He estimated about 40 percent of the energy used in common areas of the mall will come from the solar panels. “We reached a point economically that solar began to make sense,” he said. “It’s very significant in the amount of cost savings.” In addition to being a smart business decision, LeMasters said he felt it also was the right thing to do. The solar panels are not all that’s new at the mall. Pandora and Finish Line are renovating their stores, while Vans, the California-based shoe store, is moving to a different spot inside the mall, LeMasters said. Brooks Brothers also moved to a different space in the upper level. Many of the chain brands in Cherry Creek do renovations to keep up to date with the look of their brand. LeMasters said the renovations are a partnership between the mall and the stores that lease the space. “That’s really where our focus and our emphasis is,” he said. “We are thrilled at the number of stores that are coming with us this year — or will be with us this year.” The AMC Theater in the mall is another example of a business renovating its space to keep up with the modern brand. The theater will have a bar as well as reclining seats once the renovations are finished. It will have the movie-going experience that people have come to expect, LeMasters said. Stores, such as menswear store Untuckit and Eyebobs, found their homes online and are now breaking into mall retail. Both stores are set to open soon in Cherry Creek. They join other online outlets that opened in the mall like glasses store Warby Parker and Fabletics, which sells women’s athletic wear. “They represent the clicks-to-bricks idea,” LeMasters said. “These were pure internet plays that said `We want brick and mortar.’ ” LeMasters also hinted that the mall will be announcing several new tenants in the coming months, but declined to name the stores. With luxury fashion store Hermes also starting its buildout in the mall this year, LeMasters said he’s excited for the rest of 2019. “It’s going to be a very big year,” he said.
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Life On Capitol Hill 27
March 2019
Libraries say goodbye to overdue fines Denver Public Libraries find circulation dropping even after reducing, eliminating late fees
director of community relations at DCL. She also added that, while DCL has discussed the idea of eliminating fees in the past, it does not have plans to do so in the near future.
By Casey Van Divier caseyvandivier@yahoo.com
When Denver Public Libraries lowered daily overdue fines in 2014, the goal was clear — the libraries were trying to “reduce barriers to customer access,” Jennifer Hoffman said. Hoffman, who is the books and borrowing manager at DPL, said the adjustment fell somewhat short of DPL’s vision. “Those changes were helpful,” she said, “but they really just weren’t quite as impactful as we had hoped.” The reduction in late fees, which decreased daily fines on an item from 25 cents to 20 cents and set a maximum fine of $3 per item, appears to have had little impact on the total number of items circulated, or checked out to customers, by DPL. Before the adjustment in 2013, DPL had a circulation of 9,811,501. However, by 2015, total circulation had dropped to 9,097,572. Despite a steady increase in DPL’s expenditures, its 2017 circulation was still lower than that of 2013 at 9,471,889. In an effort to produce a more significant increase in the circulation of its materials, DPL eliminated all daily overdue fines as of Jan. 1. “If they don’t bring an item back by the due date, on day 14, they’re going to be blocked — they can’t check out anything else,” Hoffman said. “If they bring that item back, there’s not going to be an overdue fine or anything.” Should a customer fail to return an item 28 days after the due date, a hold will be placed
At the start of this year, the Denver Public Library system got rid of fines for overdue items. Library officials hope this will bring more people in to check out books or other items. GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO on his or her account until a replacement fee is repaid, a policy that was already in place before 2019, Hoffman said. However, because of the new policy, the fee will be waived for customers who bring back overdue items, regardless of how much time has passed. Meanwhile, the changes made to encourage library checkouts in 2014, such as a process that automatically renews items the day before they are due, have remained a part of library policy. “We really didn’t like the fact that customers were being blocked for fines for items they had actually returned,” Hoffman said. “And because some customers would renew things late multiple times, they would rack up like $30 in overdue fines for a single item,” she
said. “It was crazy.” DPL started discussing whether or not to eliminate late fees back in 2014, at a time when several other libraries were doing the same thing. The High Plains Library District in northern Colorado, for example, did away with overdue fines for most items in 2015. Meanwhile, many other Colorado libraries continue to impose overdue fines because of the potential benefits of such policies. At Douglas County Libraries, where patrons are charged 20 cents per day for an overdue item, Amber DeBerry says some patrons view late fees as a learning experience. “Some of our staff have heard from our patrons that the late fees are used to teach their children about responsibility,” said DeBerry,
Still, circulation continues to drop As for those libraries that have eliminated late fees, many have yet to see a noticeable effect on their circulation rates. For High Plains Library District, circulation rose in 2015, the year the policy change was implemented, by 1.18 percent; in the years that followed, however, circulation began to decrease once again, dropping by nearly 200,000 items between 2014 and 2017. In total, from 2015 to 2017, HPLD’s circulation decreased by 8.1 percent. Meanwhile, at DCL, where late fees are still collected, circulation only decreased by 7.46 percent over those two years. However, though doing away with late fees does not always affect a downward trend in circulation, Hoffman said the practice has other benefits. She and her colleagues hope the elimination of late fees will create a better experience for Denver’s library-goers, just as the policy changes did in 2014. “Even though we didn’t charge overdue fines for children’s materials, the worry of bringing things back late sometimes would keep parents from checking stuff out,” she said. She added that the automatic renewal process has “reduced stress” for these customers. Ideally, the elimination of overdue fines will be permanent, she said. However, the library will continue to evaluate and respond to the policy’s effectiveness in achieving library goals. “The elimination of fines is not in any way to suggest that we don’t want our materials back,” Hoffman said. “It’s really more that we would much rather give customers continued access to materials than levy arbitrary fines that may be difficult for them to pay.”
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28 Life On Capitol Hill
March 2019
TREASURES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
Crew members work on the Central 70 project which will expand Interstate 70. COURTESY OF CENTRAL 70 PROECT
I-70 project continues on schedule with March closures Staff Report
March 8 - 10
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Although February has been one of the Denver metro area’s coldest months in years – with temperatures averaging 28 degrees – crews continue to make progress on the Central 70 Project and remain on schedule. Over the next month, motorists can expect to see the following traffic impacts, including increased enforcement along the corridor: • Xcel utility relocation work on York Street will require a center lane closure on eastbound and westbound Iinterstate 70 from March 8-10, and a full closure of York Street between 44th and 48th avenues from March 6-15. • Interestate 270 flyover bridge work will require a full closure of eastbound and westbound I-70 from I-270 to Colorado
Boulevard over the weekend of March 22. • Minor traffic shifts on Colorado Boulevard near I-70 and overnight ramp closures in preparation for the permanent closure of the existing southbound Colorado Boulevard loop-ramp to eastbound I-70 on March 22. Once the loop ramp is closed, motorists will turn left at a signalized intersection, south of the existing ramp, to access eastbound I-70. • I-70 at Peoria Street bridge work requiring lane closures overnight from March 20-22 • Ongoing overnight I-70 ramp closures. Please keep in mind these dates are weather-dependent and subject to change. Sign up for updates at https://www.codot.gov/projects/i70east, to find out more information about these closures as they get closer.
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