WashParkProfile.com
MAY 2021
Digital and print community newspaper founded in 1978.
FREE
SEASONAL EATS Local farmers markets are opening for the 2021 season
P4
KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON
REFLECTING THROUGH ART
‘PRIORITIZE WITH PURPOSE’
Energy Outreach Colorado has a mission to help people afford their energy costs
Americas COVID-19 Memorial seeks public submissions
Two Denver moms launch personal assistant service business
P7
P8
P9
2 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
Business Matters Christy Steadman | csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Business Matters is a monthly column featuring business news in the Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile coverage areas, which is roughly central and central-south Denver. If you are a local business that would like to announce any updates to your operations, email Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia. com. Denver started operating at Level Blue on the former COVID Dial on April 16. This means less restrictions for most businesses. Restaurants that can maintain a six-foot distance between parties may operate at 100% capacity. Groups are still limited to 10 people. Bars that do not serve food can operate at 25% capacity but not to exceed 75 people. Alcohol beverage sales are permitted at bars and restaurants until 2 a.m. Indoor events up to 500 people (excluding staff ) may operate at 100% capacity. This is for both seated and unseated events, but there must be six-foot distancing between groups, which are limited to 10 individuals. Outdoor events with fewer than 5,000 attendees may operate at 100% capacity. However, these events are subject to obtaining a written mitigation plan that facilitates social distancing between parties. Gyms, recreation centers and pools are also allowed to operate at up to 100% capacity, but there must be six-foot distancing between non-household members. Personal services may operate up to 50% capacity, but not to exceed 50 people. Offices and retail businesses are allowed to operate with up to 75% capacity. There are still some statewide and city mask/face covering mandates. Statewide, face coverings are required in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and congregate settings. Denver is additionally requiring a face covering to be worn in indoor public places, and on public-and-shared transportation. It is no longer mandated to wear a face covering outdoors in Denver, however, the city encourages continuing to wear a face covering in public outdoor spaces.
NEW OPENINGS The Table Public House A nonprofit with a goal to help end hunger in Denver has opened a family-
oriented venue called The Table Public House on the west side of the Overland neighborhood. The nonprofit, which is called The Table Urban Farm or more commonly known as simply The Table, has been growing its organic produce in the south Denver area — more specifically, the Platt Park and University Hills neighborhoods — since 2012. The Table partners with private homeowners who allows The Table to grow vegetables on their property. “From raised beds on unused driveways to entire back and front yards - we like to grow vegetables in unsuspecting places,” states The Table’s website. The food is then then distributed to the community through local partners or The Table’s Veggie Bike. The Table was founded by husbandand-wife team Craig Broek and Jeanine Kopaska Broek who currently co-direct the organization. The Table Public House, 2190 S. Platte River Dr., opened on April 2. It specializes in coffee and small plates and has beer on tap. The venue also hosts local musicians who perform live and other small events such as seed giveaways and bike diagnostics. To learn more about The Table Urban Farm, visit www.denvertable.org, and to learn more about The Table Public House, visit https://tablepublichouse. com/. Both are also active on social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Ogden Street South Ogden Street South, a neighborhood bar that served the community for about 47 years, has closed, according to BusinessDen. BusinessDen reported that the business, located at 103 S. Ogden St., which is in the southeast area of the Speer neighborhood, was put up for sale on March 27. The BusinessDen article states that “a potential buyer that would bring a new concept to the location has been selected, but as of an April 7 online posting of the article on The Know, which is a publication of the Denver Post, the deal had not yet been finalized.
MILESTONES Hydrate IV Bar Hydrate IV Bar celebrated its five-year
We Moved! New Hours! Hours by appointment only - Saturday 11-4 Extended hours during the holidays
Sowilo Artisan Jewelry 999 Vallejo Unit 3, Studio 4K Denver, CO 80204
OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS
CLOSINGS
303-548-5467
•
anniversary in April of opening its first location in Denver’s Bonnie Brae neighborhood. Hydrate IV Bar is an intravenous therapy (IV) wellness spa that offers a variety of services including vitamin-infused IV therapy and vitamin injections. At the time of opening the Bonnie Brae location, 753 S. University Blvd., in 2016, Hydrate IV Bar was one of the first of its kind in the metro area. Since then, the Colorado-based franchise has expanded to include three additional locations in Denver — Cherry Creek, inside the Live Love Lash spa at 2717 E. Third Ave.; and two locations in the Highlands neighborhoods, one located at 3440 W. 32nd Ave. and one at the Nurture Wellness Marketplace, 2949 Federal Blvd. — as well as a location in Boulder, one in Fort Collins and one out-of-state location in Arizona. It was founded by Katie Wafer, a fifthgeneration Coloradan and former Denver Broncos cheerleader who discovered IV therapy while working in Las Vegas as a medical sales representative, according to a small business spotlight published in July 2019 by the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District. To learn more about Hydrate IV Bar, visit https://hydrateivbar.com/.
The Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast and Museum located in Fall River, MassachuCOURTESY PHOTO setts.
Denver Terrors US Ghost Adventures announced mid-April that it has gone under contract to purchase the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast and Museum located in Fall River, Massachusetts. The local entertainment company affiliated with US Ghost Adventures is Denver
Terrors, which is known locally for its Denver Ghost Tour of Capitol Hill. The Lizzie Borden house is reputedly haunted. According to a news release: “The Lizzie Borden house is famously known as the home of Lizzie Borden, whose father Andrew and stepmother Abby were gruesomely murdered with a hatchet in 1892. Lizzie Borden was accused of the murders, and her trial became a national media sensation. She was acquitted in 1893. The murder is considered one of the oldest and most infamous unsolved murders in the United States.” To celebrate the acquisition, US Ghost Adventures is putting on a sweepstakes for a party of two to win a two-night stay at the Lizzie Borden House, including $500 towards transportation costs. To enter the sweepstakes, book a ghost tour with Denver Terrors and enter the promo code “Borden” when booking. The offer ends July 1. To learn more about US Ghost Adventures, visit https://usghostadventures. com. To learn more about Denver Terrors or to book a ghost tour, visit https://denverterrors.com. LivWell Enlightened Health LivWell Enlightened Health announced on April 15 the launch of its broadcast ad campaign, making the company the first in the cannabis industry to broadcast advertisements, according to a news release. “After a decade of leading the cannabis industry in Colorado, we have taken the next step in brand awareness,” said Michael Lord, LivWell’s chief operating officer, in a news release. “These ads represent the continuing maturity of the cannabis industry in that we can now advertise alongside other companies in traditional broadcast media.” LivWell is a recreational and medical marijuana dispensary with locations across Colorado and Denver, including 432 S. Broadway in the West Washington Park neighborhood and 1660 Pearl St. in Uptown. The advertisement campaign includes multiple ads that will run on broadcast television and digital platforms across Colorado, states the news release. They can also be viewed at https://livwell.com/ news-media. To learn more about LivWell Enlightened Health, visit https://livwell.com/. Age verification of 21 years is required to enter the site.
WPVC
Washington Park Veterinary Clinic With loving hearts and caring hands, we take the time to help you provide the best care for your pets. We are considered essential and will remain open to care for your pets during this health crises. Please contact the clinic for hours of operation and new protocols when scheduling an appointment.
393 S. Pearl St. • 303-871-8050
www.washingtonparkvc.com · Office Hours M-F 9-6 Karen Jones-Diller, DVM | Laura Lederman, DVM Lindsey Rademacher, DVM
Washington Park Profile 3
May 1, 2021
Sharing the summer with students Denver Center for the Performing Arts offers its annual summer classes
REGISTER FOR CLASSES The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ 2021 Robert & Judi Newman Summer Series of classes boasts more than 150 class offerings for attendees age 5 and older. Classes for children PreK through fifth grade will all be offered in a virtual format, and classes for teens — sixth to 12th grade — and adults will be able to choose from both virtual or in-person class offerings. The DCPA will implement and enforce all CDC and local COVID-19 guidelines, including, but not limited to, capacity limits, social distancing and face coverings. To find a full roster of class offerings or to register, visit www.denvercenter.org/ education.
By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is looking forward to offering the entire community time with other students to share in the power of play this summer. “We are so excited to share the summer with students,” said Allison Watrous, executive director of DCPA education and community engagement. “Theatre is all about connection, creativity and collaboration. It gives students of all ages the opportunity to explore the power of storytelling.” This summer, the DCPA’s education department is again offering its annual Robert & Judi Newman Summer Series of classes with more than 150 class offerings making up the roster. Classes for students who are age 5 through fifth grade will be virtual, and there will be a mix of both virtual and in-person classes for teens and adults to choose from. The traditionally-popular classes — such as acting, improv and choreography for example — will again be offered this summer, but these will be complemented by newer classes that focus on voiceover for audio book narration and video games, for example. Attendees can choose between a mix of single-day and multi-week classes plus a full lineup of
Rachel Taylor, a teaching artist and program manager for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts works with a youth in a previous year. Taylor will also be teaching a variety of classes for both adults and youth virtually this year for the DCPA’s 2021 Robert & Judi COURTESY OF DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Newman Summer Series.
workshops. No experience is necessary, and scholarships are available. “This variety allows us to invite newcomers to try a few classes to find the perfect fit,” Watrous said, “as well as welcome back the seasoned actor for advanced instruction as they prepare for the theatre season ahead.” Rachel Taylor, a teaching artist and program manager for the DCPA, has been with the DCPA for about 20 years
and will be teaching virtual classes this summer. “The energy is different,” Taylor said of online theater classes, “but the value is parallel.” In fact, she added, some people even feel “free-er” to express themselves when taking a theater class online. Taylor finds teaching theater — whether virtual or in-person — rewarding because she gets to watch the youngest
students become part of the story, see the middle schoolers come out of their shell and witness the teens and adults expand their creative thinking skills, she said. “Theater arts is one of the coolest art forms because it involves all of the art forms combined into one,” Taylor said. “The skills you learn in theater are just as powerful for a 5-year-old as they are for an 85-year-old.” People tend to love live theater for its togetherness, Watrous said. But, she added, something that the DCPA has learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that “a virtual space is just as valuable for sharing time together.” “This summer, as we are getting back out in the world, will be all about connecting,” Watrous said. “We are so excited for the arts community to rebuild and welcome students back into all of our spaces — both in-person and virtual.”
- E D U C AT I O N A L A DV E R T I S E M E N T -
Learn how your neighbors are accessing $100,000s from home equity with Colorado’s number one reverse mortgage lender.
F
rom Larimer Square to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver is truly a great place to call home and enjoy retirement. With the Rockies at your doorstep, there are virtually unlimited opportunities for adventure. Denver is also No. 3 on the list of America’s Best Cities* for a Healthy (and More Affordable Retirement). What you may not know is a reverse mortgage loan from AAG may help you get even more out of your retirement. A reverse mortgage is simply a way for you to convert some of your built-up home equity into cash for your retirement — cash to pay off large bills or high-interest credit card debt, make home improvements, cover medical expenses, build a bigger rainy-day fund, or simply get out and enjoy more of the Mile High City.
If you choose, you can wait to repay your loan when you permanently leave your home. Although a reverse mortgage requires no monthly mortgage payments, you are still responsible for paying for the maintenance of your home, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and, if required, HOA fees. “Working with Jarred Talmadge and AAG was a very nice experience,” said AAG customer Angela Pendergraft. “No pressure or feelings of anxiety. He answered all our questions and concerns leaving us feeling comfortable with our decision to do a reverse mortgage.” If you want to learn how a reverse mortgage can specifically improve your retirement, AAG Market Sales Manager Jarred Talmadge, NMLS# 1842043, and his team are ready to assist you. Jarred can also address all your questions and concerns by calling (303) 957-3653 today.
To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must: Be 62 or older Own your own home Live in it as your primary residence Have sufficient home equity (no mortgage or low mortgage balance) ACT NOW FOR A FREE INFO KIT
(303) 957-3653
*https://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/americas_best_cities_for_a_healthy_retirement.aspx NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612. AAG conducts business in CO (Regulated by the Division of Real Estate; to check the license status of your mortgage loan originator, visit http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm). These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency. For full legaldisclosure, please visit: www.americanadvisorsgroup.com/disclosure
4 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
Denver residents Peter and Margo Wanberg will be opening the City Park Farmers Market with a focus on local consumable goods on May 15. COURTESY PHOTO
Farmers markets offering Colorado products are back for the season By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
P
eople love to hear the stories behind the food they consume. “It puts the personality back in food,” said Steve Ela, a fourth generation farmer with Colorado’s Ela Family Farms which got its start in 1907. One of the best ways to hear these stories is from the famers themselves, and a local farmers market is a wonderful place to have such conversations, Ela said. Consumers get excited when they get to learn every detail about how the food is grown, and how it went from bloom on the farm to their family’s table, he said. People love to explore different tastes and varieties, and for the farmers, Ela added, all the hard work they put into growing the food is rewarded when someone says, “`wow, that was the best peach I’ve ever eaten.’” It is farmers market season again in Colorado, and the Denver area boats many different markets to explore — each with their own uniqueness and charm. SEE FARMERS MARKET, P5
IF YOU GO It is expected that farmers markets will be able to once again have live music and other entertainment for the 2021 season, as well as onsite eating at socially-distanced spaced tables. Vendors being able to offer samples and food and beverage tastings may come back as well. However, certain guidelines for operations might vary and be different for each market, so it is recommended to check websites before visiting each market to ensure you know the rules for the ones you wish to visit. Another benefit to browsing the farmers markets’ websites is to find a variety of information not related to COVID-19 restrictions. For example, most have a list of vendors and links to the vendor’s website, and some farmers markets list the vendors’ seasonal offerings as they become available. Boulter’s 5280 Urban Market — University Hills Located at University Hills Plaza, 2500 S. Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays May 15 to Oct. 30 https://boultersfarmersmarkets.com/ Central Park Farmers Market Located at Founders Green, 7601 29th Ave. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays June 6 to Oct. 10 https://www.hobnobevents.com/central-park-farmers-market/ City Park Farmers Market Located at East High School Esplanade, 1600 City Park Esplanade 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays May 15 to Oct. 30 https://www.cityparkfarmersmarket.com/ Colorado Fresh Markets - Cherry Creek Located at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, First Avenue and University Boulevard 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays May 1 to Oct. 30 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays June 16 to Sept. 29 https://www.coloradofreshmarkets.com/
R s
Denver Union Station (Boulder County Farmers Markets) Located at 1701 Wynkoop St. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays May 8 to Oct. 23 https://bcfm.org/ Highlands Farmers Market (Real Farmers Markets) Located at Highlands Square, 3489 W. 32nd Ave. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays May 23 to Oct. 10 http://realfarmersmarketco.com/
Along with many other harvestable fruits, Ela Family Farms grows about 32 varieties of apples, which they will be bringing to farmers markets near the end of August, roughly. Ela Family Farms will be at a number of farmers markets this year, but the ones in Denver are the City Park Farmers Market, South Pearl Street Farmers Market and the Central Park Farmers Market. COURTESY OF CITY PARK FARMERS MARKET
South Pearl Street Farmers Market Located on the 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street, between Iowa and Arkansas avenues. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays May 9 to Nov. 14 https://www.southpearlstreet.com/farmers-market/
F a F
Washington Park Profile 5
May 1, 2021
Farmers Market FROM PAGE 4
A relational, community experience Peter and Margo Wanberg will be opening their City Park Farmers Market this year in the space that was formerly occupied by City Park Esplanade Fresh Market. This will be the first year for the husband and wife team to run a farmers market, though the two have been vendors at various markets with Peter Wanberg’s Jubilee Roasting Co. coffee since 2017. Margo Wanberg is co-founder of 3 Sisters Honey. “When you shop at farmers markets, you get a relational experience,” Peter Wanberg said. They are “something that bonds the community further.” The City Park Farmers Market will feature food trucks and live music, and its unique entertainment includes a donationbased yoga class led by Big Power Yoga. With the market, the Wanbergs have a goal to provide the fundamentals of what a farmers market can be — focusing on Colorado local and focusing on food, Wanberg said. “We’ve really curated our selection of local producers, farmers and artisans to provide a food-focused experience for guests,” Wanberg said. “Local produce is the foundation of a farmers market and everything else we’re doing is built around that.” Market shoppers will be able to browse at least 60 vendor booths each week whose businesses range from established brands to startups. Goods will include mostly consumable products — fruits and vegetables, dairy, baked goods, jams and sauces, for example — and a few that will offer goods such as botanical soaps, flowers or zero
waste supplies. All of the vendors are “passionate about growing food (and) using local and organic ingredients,” Wanberg said. He added that he and Margo are especially looking forward to being advocates for the local producers and offering market-goers the opportunity to not only shop for fresh food, but the opportunity to contribute to the local economy. “We get to be champions for these local food producers,” Wanberg said. “By purchasing local, the dollars go directly from consumer to producer.” Offering new inspirations for mealtimes Considering what aspects are important to people when thinking about their ideal shopping experience, shopping at farmers markets can check a lot of those boxes, said Nicole Jarman, farmers market manager of the South Pearl Street Farmers Market. There is a community aspect, Jarmen said, which is important to a lot of marketgoers. “We’re all craving that connection and community,” she added. “Historically, visiting your local farmers market each week means you get to see your neighbors.” But also, Jarmen added, people typically want to support local businesses and food producers when they can. And still others shop at farmers markets for the healthier options of having a great selection of fresh food to choose from. South Pearl Street, as a whole, is quite the destination place for people, Jarmen said. People enjoy spending some time at the farmers market in the earlier part of the day, then spending the afternoon browsing the unique small businesses and dining at the various restaurants. This year’s farmers market boasts a mix
of 140 vendors offering quite the variety of goods, Jarmen said. “There are two very long blocks dedicated to the farmers market,” Jarmen said. “I don’t think there’s anything you won’t be able to find at the market this year.” The South Pearl Street Farmers Market has been going on for a couple decades. It will feature food trucks, live entertainment and new this year is what’s being called the chef experience. This will provide people with new inspiration for their meals and cooking, Jarmen said. Each week, a Front Range chef will be featured to write a recipe that can be made completely with items purchased from the South Pearl Street Farmers Market. The recipe will be available to the public prior to the weekly market on Sunday so people can shop for the items. Each Sunday evening, the featured chef will host a virtual cooking class, which will be available on the South Pearl Street Farmers Market’s website. ‘When the music came back’ Farmers markets truly are all about community, said Chris Burke, president of Colorado Fresh Markets-Cherry Creek. People love getting out of the house to enjoy the warm weather, and the adventure of “seeing what’s there,” he said. And because they get to form relationships with the consumers, “the vendors enjoy it (farmers markets) just as much as anybody.” The outdoor setting of farmers markets lends to them being one of the few venues that can currently offer live entertainment, so this year, people are especially looking forward to that, Burke said. He added that it wasn’t until later in the season last year when the Cherry Creek farmers market was able to bring back its live music.
“When the music came back, it was such a warming feeling,” Burke said, adding that people were dancing and simply enjoying it in a socially-distanced manner. The Cherry Creek farmers market is going into its 24th season. It will have food trucks, live entertainment and will boast hundreds — if not a few hundred or more — fresh items to shop for, from spring flowers to European cheeses, all by Colorado vendors. And many of these items are unique and/or not readily available in grocery stores, Burke said. Colorado Fresh Markets-Cherry Creek offers a market on Saturdays as well as Wednesdays. “Crops come in all week long,” Burke said. So “there’s a demand for it.” Additionally, people working in the nearby area enjoy being able to grab a fresh bite to eat for their lunch on Wednesdays, Burke added. More than an essential business Last year, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, farmers markets were deemed an essential business because of the fresh groceries and other goods that can be purchased at them, said Zach Martinucci, founder and owner of Rebel Bread which specializes in artisan breads and coffee shop pastries. This year, especially as restrictions ease, farmers markets will be able to go back to offering the community-feel that is associated with farmers markets, and once again serve as local, social gathering spaces, he added. “Farmers markets mean so much for the local business community,” Martinucci said. “For these five months each year, it is our opportunity to get to know our customers.”
Rudy Grant performs at last year’s Colorado Fresh Markets-Cherry Creek. Live entertainment is something people are especially looking forward to at this year’s farmers markets. COURTESY OF COLORADO FRESH MARKETS
Farmers markets offer a wide variety of Colorado-grown, fresh produce from local vendors such as Longmont’s Rocky Mountain Fresh which will be a vendor at this year’s South Pearl Street COURTESY OF SOUTH PEARL STREET FARMERS MARKET Farmers Market.
Maya Dank, market director for Rebel Bread, sets the local bakery’s items out for sale during last year’s South Pearl Street Farmers Market. Rebel Bread is looking forward to being a vendor at both the South Pearl Street Farmers Market and the City Park Farmers Market this year. PHOTO BY MASON E HUCKABEE PHOTOGRAPHY
6 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
Discovering the magic of the natural world New fiction book explores the notion of people versus nature By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Made Out of Trees
Courtesy IMAGE
BE THE LEADER OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS
Because of the proximity of Colorado’s majestic mountains to the city, Platt Park resident Joe Beine believes that Denver residents live right next door to paradise. A similar paradise is the setting for Beine’s latest book, “Made Out of Trees.” “In the book, nature is going out of balance because of the encroachment of people,” Beine said. “I felt Laurel’s story needed to be out there.” Laurel is the main character of Beine’s book. She is a nature sprite connected to the elements whose natural world provides her with everything she needs. Laurel is weary of the nearby village, but eventually learns more about it through a friendship with a teenage girl that came about unexpectedly. However, as Laurel starts to explore the world beyond hers, she learns first-hand how humans don’t always live in harmony with nature. Beine hopes that “Made Out of Trees” will inspire audiences to “learn to be friends with the natural world and be a part of it,” he said. “Made Out of Trees” came out in late January. It is Beine’s third novella, and he also has a collection of short stories published. Beine, 63, has always had a love of storytelling and geared “Made Out of Trees” toward teen and young adult readers. But Beine believes audiences of all ages will enjoy the book. “Hopefully,” Beine said, “the magic of the story will be helpful to people during these hard times.” Q&A with Joe Beine What inspired you to write “Made out of Trees?” A character started forming in my head who seemed somehow connected to trees, very close to nature. I didn’t really have a story yet, but I had Laurel — a nature sprite who lived by herself in the forest. And she
Joe Beine
To purchase “Made out of Trees” or find more of Joe Beine’s books, visit www.swanlightstories.com. lived inside a tree surrounded by a lot of books. After I wrote the first chapter, which I thought was going to be a short story, I decided I really liked the character so I just kept writing about her. And I followed her into her forest, into her magical world of wolves and bees and plants, and her story slowly emerged. It was as though she led me into it. What do you hope readers will take away from the book? It felt magical writing the story and following Laurel into her world of nature. I hope the reader finds that same magic in the book, especially from light — the sunshine and the rich starshine that’s missing from living in a city. And Laurel’s relationship with water — the nurturing rain and the importance of the stream that wanders by her tree house. I hope the reader sees the story as an allegory for our time and it helps bring people closer to the natural world’s magic.
Local ads, coupons & deals are just one click away! CHECK IT OUT AT:
Putting you first made us #1.
Master’s Degree in 18 Months Graduate Certificate in 6 Months Non-Credit Personal Enrichment Professional Development Courses Collette Cressy-Beer, Agent 900 E Louisiana Denver, CO 80210 Bus: 303-722-2777 collette.cressy-beer.byu5@statefarm.com Mon-Fri 9:00 am to 5:00pm Closed from 12-1 for Lunch Evening & weekends by appt.
ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
Making you our #1 priority is what’s made State Farm #1* in auto insurance. I’m here to listen to your needs and to help life go right. CALL ME TODAY. ®
*Based on written premium as reported by SNL Financial 2014.
Online • Evenings • Weekends universitycollege.du.edu 1601917
Washington Park Profile 7
May 1, 2021
HELPING
TO KEEP
THE
LIGHTS ON
Energy Outreach Colorado assists with utility bills By Joanne Davidson
B
Special to Colorado Politics
efore COVID-19, the nonprofit Energy Outreach Colorado had evidence that one in every four Colorado households struggled to pay monthly utility bills. Today, with pandemic-related job losses and reduced incomes, the need for help in paying these bills has skyrocketed. “Between April 2020 and March 2021, our Heat Help Hotline received over 250,000 calls,” said Denise Stepto, EOC spokesperson. Those calls resulted in EOC paying past-due utility bills for some 25,000 households, for a total of $13 million — a 46% increase in the number of bills paid and a 75% increase in assistance dollars over the same period a year earlier. Energy Outreach Colorado was established in 1989 with the belief that everyone deserves affordable access to the resources vital to powering their homes, be it electricity, gas, propane or wood. As noted on the EOC website, “when everyone can afford and maintain their home, then they can focus on living, rather than merely surviving.” “Even 30-plus years ago, Colorado legislators realized that a fair amount of people couldn’t afford their utility bills and that there were few resources to help them,” Stepto said. “Legislatively they created us and encouraged utility companies to work with us. Since then, we’ve taken EOC from just a bill-payment assistance program to one that addresses a wider range of issues relating to energy stability.” In addition to helping income-qualifying Coloradans pay their energy bills, EOC is the only statewide nonprofit that: • Provides emergency home-energy assistance and longer-term approaches to reduce energy use, lower costs and develop innovative energy solutions. This includes home energy audits; repairs to, or replacement of, inefficient furnaces; and helping develop energy budgets for families whose bills are soaring with increased use of devices to accommodate work or virtual learning demands. • Leverages resources and partnerships with utilities, the state and corporate and individual donors to serve more people in need. • Helps stabilize energy service provider workforces by hiring contract workers throughout the state.
Energy Outreach Colorado is a nonprofit that can help people afford their energy costs — including bill payment assistance and repairing or even replacing a furnace. GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
• Shares its expertise with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Colorado General Assembly and gas and electric distribution companies. “Our clients aren’t people who just aren’t paying their bills,” Stepto said. “They’re seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, baristas, teachers, service providers, grocery store workers, people with unexpected medical bills or emergencies — you name it. And with COVID, the number of those needing our help is growing by unprecedented amounts.” In 2020, Energy Outreach Colorado served 32,626 households. Renters comprised the largest demographic at 18,672 and households with children numbered 14,230. There were 7,525 rural households served, 6,658 households where one or more members had a disability, and 5,650 households occupied by senior citizens. As of early April, EOC had spent $3 million in 2021 “just to keep people safe.” The COVID pandemic also caused 17 nonprofit organizations to seek EOC’s help. “They were at risk of having to shut down because they couldn’t afford to meet their respective missions and pay their utility bills,” Stepto said. “We helped by offering bill payment assistance, making their buildings energy-efficient and finding other solutions to reducing their energy costs.” People seeking EOC assistance are referred by friends, neighbors, church groups and agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, Goodwill and The Action Center.
HOW TO GET HOME ENERGY HELP
THE HEAT IS ON
Energy Outreach Colorado has a variety of programming that is available to any Colorado household — and nonprofits that serve low-income individuals and families — that may need help with affording home energy costs. To learn more about EOC, visit www. energyoutreach.org/. EOC’s Help Lines are another way for people to reach the organization. For utility bill payment assistance, call 1-866-432-8435. For help with a faulty furnace and/or are living without heat, contact EOC’s Crisis Intervention program at 1-855-469-4328. EOC is funded primarily through grants, community contributions and donations. To learn more about donating EOC, visit the website above and select the ‘Ways to Support’ tab from the home page.
Energy Outreach Colorado’s annual golf classic — The Heat Is On — will take place as an in-person event on Aug. 31 at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia. Sanctuary Golf Course is an exclusive golf course that is typically invitationonly and limited to those sponsoring a charity tournament. For The Heat Is On, golfers may join the tournament as an individual player or through a sponsorship for 4-16 players. Individual player spots are available on a first-come, first served basis. Sponsorship opportunities are offered at different levels. All are tax-deductible, and all proceeds from the tournament helps EOC achieve its mission of providing energy assistance and efficiency to any Coloradan who needs it. For sponsorship and individual golfer information and prices, contact Tess Richey at trichey@energyoutreach.org.
But grateful as the clients are for help received, Stepto said that a reluctance to seek help remains. “A lot of people, especially our older clients, are ashamed to say they need help,” she said. “They say they’ve never been in a situation like this before, but they’ve received a shut-off notice and they’re desperate and scared. Still, there’s that delicate line of the dignity component.” EOC this year received an allocation from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In addition, its approximate $20 million budget is funded by distributions from the Colorado Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LEAP), investment income, grants and donations from Xcel Energy and other utility companies and fundraising events like an annual golf tournament. EOC’s goal, Stepto said, is to put itself out of business. However, that isn’t likely to happen any time soon, thanks to rising energy costs and lingering effects from the pandemic. This story is from Colorado Politics, a statewide political and public policy news journal. Used by permission. For more, visit coloradopolitics.com.
Many Coloradans may not be getting the help they need By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Energy Outreach Colorado has a mission to help people afford their energy costs. And to fulfill that mission, it is so important for the nonprofit to make sure every Coloradan is aware of it, said Denise Stepto, EOC’s chief communications officer. While EOC is reaching many Coloradans, she said, there are many more who
are not getting the help they may need. “There are a lot of people who are finding us, but a lot of people who aren’t,” Stepto said. “The pandemic has put a lot of people in crisis (and) it could easily be your next door neighbor who has fallen behind.” Lack of employment, or becoming under employed, during the pandemic are reasons people could currently be struggling to pay their energy bills, Stepto said. But another hardship brought on by COVID-19 is the increased amount of energy
needed to power devices for working from home and/or remote schooling. “Utility bills have increased,” Stepto said, “but wages have not.” She added that many households place utility bills as the third priority in their money management — rent and mortgage payments are first, and that is followed by food and medications. But “you cannot live without your lights on,” Stepto said. One cannot live without heat in the winter in Colorado, so some households
may be contending with a large pastdue bill they cannot pay, and possibly facing a shutoff, Stepto added. And although the upcoming summer months will bring some households’ utility bills down a bit, there are some people with health conditions that requires them to have air conditioning in their home, Stepto said. “All of these are health and safety issues of your home,” she said. “Anybody who is concerned with their home energy costs should call.”
8 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
‘More together than apart’ Public submissions being accepted for Americas COVID-19 Memorial By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
T
he Americas make up about 13% of the world’s population. Yet, as of April, nearly 50% of the world’s COVID-19 deaths occurred in the Americas. So the Biennial of the Americas got to thinking: “how can people memorialize the 1.4 million deaths in our hemisphere,” said FloraJane DiRienzo, deputy director of the Biennial of the Americas. Thus, the idea for the Americas COVID-19 Memorial came to be. “The Americas COVID-19 Memorial seeks to create a space to come together in our individual and collective grief and healing processes, providing an opportunity to reflect on the complexities of a global pandemic through art,” DiRienzo said. “We hope that many members of the public will submit artworks, conveying varied experiences and insights from across the Americas.” The Biennial of the Americas is a Denver-based nonprofit that got its start in 2010. It exists to “enhance, celebrate and discover the
cultural and economic connections between” the Americas, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, states its website. “We’ve all been affected (by the pandemic) in some way,” DiRienzo said. “As our world becomes more global, we have to look beyond our backyard.” The Americas COVID-19 Memorial was announced in early March and entails a multi-month project, culminating this summer with an online exhibition that will be publicly accessible. Currently, the Biennial of the Americas is seeking artwork submitted by the public to be included in the memorial. The open call for public submissions will close at the end of May. There is no prerequisite of being an established or professional artist — meaning anyone is welcome to submit a piece of original art. Individuals or collaborative groups of any age or nationality, who reside within the boundaries of the Americas are invited to submit artworks. All art forms are accepted — including written word, photographs, paintings and drawings, for example — as well as all mediums, though it must be in a digital format. For example, a sculpture is welcome, but to be included in the online exhibit, a digital photograph of it should be submitted. Artwork may be
AMERICAS COVID-19 MEMORIAL TIMELINE March 3 - project announcement March 30 - open call for public submissions May - announcement of 20 featured/commissioned artists May 31 - public submissions period closes June 15 - online exhibition launches and public voting begins July - public voting closes August - awards announced To learn more about the Americas COVID-19 Memorial or to submit artwork for the exhibit, visit https://www.biennialoftheamericas.org/. accompanied by a 300-word narrative describing the work and any details about inspiration, materials used or additional context, though not required. Submissions should focus on how the artistic imagination conceives a memorial to a contemporary tragedy that transcends national borders. “There is a larger community that went through similar things, and different things (during the pandemic). Everybody’s perspective is valid,” said local artist Derrick Velasquez who is an exhibition organizer for the memorial. Velasquez is co-curating the memorial with Maria Paz Gaviria, who is based in Bogotá, Colombia.
To make sure lead stays out of your water, we’re starting with your pipes. Denver Water is committed to delivering safe water to our community. So, we’re replacing customers’ lead pipes, one impacted property at a time. To find out if you’re one of them, visit our website.
Learn more at DenverWater.org/Lead
The Biennial of the Americas is seeking public submissions for the COURTESY LOGO virtual Americas COVID-19 Memorial exhibit.
“Artists are the lenses through which we can make sense of the world in a cultural way.” Along with the public submissions, the Americas COVID-19 Memorial will feature the work of 20 commissioned artists who will be announced in May. The online exhibition will launch mid-June, which is when public voting begins. The public will be able to vote for their favorite artwork — both the public submissions and that of the commis-
sioned artists. The voting period will close in July, and awards will be announced in August. DiRienzo hopes the Americas COVID-19 Memorial will serve as a space for both healing and unity, she said. “Oftentimes, we don’t think about how similar we all are in the Americas,” DiRienzo said. “This is another opportunity to highlight how we are more alike than different, and more together than apart.”
Washington Park Profile 9
May 1, 2021
Helping people ‘prioritize with purpose’ TULA empowers its clients to have more balance in their life By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
So often, people find they just don’t have enough time in a day to accomplish all the tasks on their to-do list. South Denver residents and best friends Megan Trask and Cody Galloway sought to help with that. “We know how difficult it is to juggle the demands of life, work and home,” Trask said. “When you add a global pandemic, homeschooling and working from home to already overloaded schedules, the stress is very real.” Trask and Galloway teamed up to offer a service that would fill a need in the greater community and launched TULA last fall. It is a local, app-based personal assistant service that serves the entire Denver-metro area. TULA offers busy parents, professionals and anyone who needs a little extra assistance with a personal assistant at the touch of a button, states a news release. “We want to help busy parents and professionals bring some balance back to their lives,” Trask added. “We want people to be able to prioritize with purpose, and we believe that TULA is the starting point.” Trask and Galloway have known each other for more than two decades. Both are mothers of two children and found that, even pre-pandemic, juggling their family’s needs and their professional lives was sometimes an overwhelming feat. Trask spent about 20 years as an oil and gas executive, and often found herself “stretched too thin,” she said. As a single mom, she worked long hours and felt she did not have enough time to spend with her children. Galloway is the co-owner of Collaborative Events, a successful event-planning business. “The event industry is extremely fast paced. It’s all about the hustle, the long days and weekends and the never-ending to-do lists,” Galloway said. “After COVID hit, for once in 15 years, I was forced to slow down.” That is when TULA came about. It was important to Trask and Galloway to make the service easily accessible to anyone who needed it. To hire TULA, potential clients are able to download and use an app, create an account on the TULA website or call TULA directly. It doesn’t even matter if the tasks come in as a picture of a list or scribbled on a napkin, TULA is able to cater to the needs of the client, Trask and Galloway said. TULA also offers price options — clients can purchase a monthly package of hours, which can be further customized to include full-day or recurring tasks, or a la carte hours for one or two errands or tasks. Once TULA receives the task, one
Caring for our community by using sustainable
printing practices *See our website for details
ColoradoCommunityMedia.com
LEARN MORE To learn more about TULA, visit www. tulabalanced.com. of TULA’s vetted personal assistants is deployed to accomplish it on time to the highest standards. TULA’s assistants pass background checks, have references and are subject to COVID-19 questions pertaining to potential exposure. The assistants are friendly and professional, and have skills that range from chefs to social media experts. TULA clients can choose from a variety of customizable services — meal planning and prep, including writing a grocery list; re-decorating; gift shopping; help with research for a project; home and business organizing and scheduling, including those for home repairs; and running day-today errands such as picking up mail and deliveries at the post office. TULA can do just about any task that someone needs accomplished, Trask and Galloway said. They added that one of the quirkiest errands that TULA was hired for was going to the Department of Motor Vehicles for someone, and one of the most fun was planning a park date for a couple — which needed to be special and memorable amid contending with COVID-19. Limitations are anything that is not legal and/or unsafe; and TULA does not provide childcare, though is happy to make recommendations for area babysitters or host meetings/interviews between potential childcare providers and the family in need of the service. “Time is our most valuable currency,” said Sarah Riggs, one of TULA’s clients who is the owner and general manager of Three Cutters salon. “You have a bigger impact when you can focus on what you care most about.” Riggs started using TULA to help with Three Cutters’ social media, website and overall online presence. There are three Three Cutters salons in Denver — one in West Washington Park, one in Capitol Hill and one in the Sunnyside neighborhood — and for the past six years or so, the salon had someone in-house managing the
Denver residents Megan Trask and Cody Galloway have been best friends for the past couple of decades. Recently, the two went into a business venture together and launched TULA, a local personal assistant service. PHOTO BY TAMARA MCTAVISH
online presence. However, it was a backburner priority, Riggs said. “Hair and skin services are what we do really well,” Riggs said. “Being able to have TULA’s help allows us to focus on our passions.” Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic brought on the importance of being digitally relevant, Riggs said. Since TULA has been managing the salon’s social media, Three Cutters has gained more of an online
following and virtual engagement; people are booking their appointments online more frequently, compared to before when they would book by phone or in-person; and there is more opportunity to showcase the salon’s service providers’ expertise, Riggs said. “It’s been fantastic,” Riggs said of working with TULA. “I can be as involved or not involved as I want, and I always get a great end result.”
Argonaut Has It! Family Owned for Over 50 Years
Denver’s Largest Selection of Cold Beer.
Over 15,000 Items to chose from • 40,000 Sq. Feet of Fun
We Deliver!
760 EAST COLFAX • 303-831-7788 Mon-Thur 8 am - 11 pm • Fri & Sat 8 am - 11:45 pm • Sunday 8 am - 10 pm
SHOP ONLINE AT WWW.ARGONAUTLIQUOR.COM
Follow Us
10 Washington Park Profile
A
FROM THE EDITOR
Christy Steadman
May 1, 2021
LOCAL
VOICES
Honoring the Class of 2021
mid the COVID-19 pandemic at this time last year, my guess is that every hometown and hyperlocal newspaper across the United States were trying to figure out ways to make their high school seniors feel special — for all the hard work they put in through the years to earn that high school diploma and begin the conversion from being a teen to becoming a young adult. Colorado Community Media’s weeklies have always put together what we call a `grads package’ every year. As far as I know, the monthlies — the Washington Park Profile and Life on Capitol Hill — had never done a grads package before last year. But I felt last year was as good as any to implement a grads package for Denver seniors. And especially so because many, if not all, traditional commencement ceremonies were cancelled because of COVID-19. While I’ll never forget the Class of 2020, a year later, I have to admit that the Class of 2021 is particularly special to me. I’m proud to announce that
my oldest niece, Morgan, will be graduating from high school this year. It seems like only yesterday when she was telling me about an award she and a classmate won for some work she did in a beginner journalism class, or calling me up for a little help with her Spanish homework. (I majored in both journalism and Spanish in college.) But Morgan is not the only one who is finishing her high school career this year. So I’ve decided to bring back the grads package for Denver’s Class of 2021 graduates. Here is what I need to run this feature in the Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile newspapers: Full name of the graduate. A headshot photo — your senior picture or even a selfie in your cap and gown would work just fine. The high school you’re graduating from. The school must be located in Denver, or the graduate must live in Denver if attending a school outside of
Making our corner of Denver welcoming, inclusive and compassionate
S
pring is a time of great hope and new beginnings. I am hopeful that this spring will usher in a fresh new start for our city and the GUEST world. Denverites are looking COLUMN forward to being with friends and family, eating at restaurants, and enjoying sports, concerts, weddings and parties. I’m hopeful for a kinder and gentler world — Councilmember one that is incluKendra Black sive, welcoming, generous and where we help one another. This past year has shown us how important our relationships, compassion and humanity are. Last June, thousands of southeast Denver residents gathered in Southmoor Park for a Black Lives Matter Solidarity Walk. It was incredibly moving and inspired the creation of our Race and Social Justice Work Group which is working to engage and inform residents — opening hearts and minds — to make our corner of Denver welcoming, inclusive and compassionate. We are thrilled that students from Thomas Jefferson High School are part of the Work Group. I’m excited to see how our work evolves. We plan to bring race and social justice into our district
A publication of
Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or visit www.washparkprofile.com/subscribe
work, including sharing book and movie recommendations, bringing minority students together with older adults for dialogue, creating a community art project and integrating a race and social justice theme for our annual South by Southeast festival. We are excited to bring the South by Southeast Festival back on Aug. 21 at Bible Park, 6802 E. Yale Ave., with live music, a beer garden, food trucks, games, local vendors, nonprofits and more. With race and social justice as the theme, we will kick off the event with a 2021 Solidarity Walk around the park, and follow-up with diverse live music and performances including the Denver Municipal Jazz Band, The Bourbonites, Politiculture, a family from Venezuela who has recently migrated to Colorado and others. South by Southeast is a certifiably green event — attendees are encouraged to walk or ride to the event and to bring their own refillable water bottles. Beer will be served in reusable cups. Food will be served in compostable containers and our Waste Watchers will ensure that all waste is disposed of properly. Denver’s new Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency will be onsite to distribute reusable shopping bags and share information about reducing waste and their other efforts. South by Southeast is free and everyone is welcome. Sustainability is a top priority citywide. I continue to work on sustainability efforts including a new
bill to reduce single-use plastic waste by requiring restaurants and delivery companies to ask customers to opt-in for cutlery, straws and condiments. Beginning on July 1, Denver’s Bring Your Own Bag program will kick off. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags. Stores will charge a $0.10 fee for single-use plastic or paper bags. Population growth has contributed to increased traffic and emissions. Reducing traffic and encouraging safe mobility options are another ongoing priority for me. We are looking forward to continued safety improvements on Hampden Avenue and around the Southmoor, Yale, Belleview and Colorado Light Rail Stations. I continue to advocate for more safety improvements at key street and trail crossings. The Near Southeast Neighborhood Planning Initiative will kick off this summer and will include neighborhoods along the Evans Avenue corridor. Residents will learn about the planning process and be able to provide input on how their community will evolve as Denver grows. Our parks and trails are the soul of our corner of Denver. Exciting changes are coming to the High Line Canal including underpasses at Colorado Boulevard and Hampden connecting the Denver portion of the trail to Cherry Hills Village, a storm water pilot project that will bring SEE BLACK, P11
the city of Denver. If you’d like further information on which specific neighborhoods the newspapers cover, feel free to drop me an email. After high school plans. (Know that these plans DO NOT have to be college to be included.) QUOTE (please answer in a full sentence): What did you learn during your senior year that you will take with you as you go forward with your future plans? Responses and photos can be emailed to me directly at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia. com. I started this project for the Class of 2021 in April, but decided to extend the deadline to run it in the June editions. The new deadline is May 19. I am looking forward to seeing all the responses, and I’m sure this year’s grads package will turn out just as great as last year’s. And who knows? Because it’s so much fun, this may become an annual thing.
Think you don’t have time to start seeing a primary care doc? Think again!
R
n a s i m c s many Coloradoans make health a focus amid COVID-19, one potentially overlooked p h priority is establishing a relationship — or re-engaging — with a primary care physician. m Whether you have employer cover- a age or benefits through Medicare or m GUEST Medicaid, a primary care physician q COLUMN s can be a key resource to help you b maintain or improve your wells being, including to help prevent illness and detect diseases as early as r w possible. While the number of primary care p physicians in Colorado is trending Th upwards, the state ranks 24th in the h country at 256 providers per 100,000p residents, according to a report from Donna O’Shea F America’s Health Rankings. Unfortunately, the number of Americans overall who have a relationship t with a primary care physician is on p the decline, with an estimated 25% of people lacking a q this type of ongoing relationship with a care professional. Reversing that trend is important, as research Th shows strengthening primary care may contribute to a improved access to health-care services, better health t outcomes, and a decrease in hospitalizations and emer- p gency department visits. If you think you’re healthy enough that you don’t need a primary care physician — or maybe you’ve been rationalizing that you are too busy to establish a relationship with one — consider the following:
A
SEE PRIMARY CARE, P11
JERRY HEALEY President
ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant
Columnists & Guest Commentaries
jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com
eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
CHRISTY STEADMAN Editor
AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager
csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Email letters to csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager
ERIN FRANKS Production Manager
Deadline 5 p.m. on the 20th of each month for the following month’s paper.
lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com
efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Profile. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.
May 1, 2021
S
Washington Park Profile 11
Spring bulbs in the Water-Smart Garden
ome plants just like it dry — thriving in that spot that you thought was hopeless precisely because it has lean soil and never stays wet for long. Or, the plant may GUEST prefer a “wetter” season followed by a COLUMN drier dormant season. Dan Johnson This is where lots of our best bulbs come in, hailing from the cold dry steppes of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, or the mountains and steppe of South Africa. Denver Botanic Gardens’ Water-Smart Garden is nearly overtaken with flowering bulbs in the spring. Those that thrive here have a few things in common: They take advantage of abundant seasonal moisture, exploding into growth with leaves and flowers during our wettest season (Aprilearly June). Then their foliage dries out and disappears, returning to a dormant condition as our season gets warmer and drier. They all tolerate long periods of cold, dry conditions. Bulbs that get our earliest attention are the first to appear after a long winter. This includes smaller Iris reticulata, Muscari
Primary Care FROM PAGE 10
Recognize the value of primary care Primary care physicians can be a convenient and more affordable way for people to address their day-to-day health-care needs, such as annual checkups, preventive screenings, routine care and chronic condition management if needed. Typically, primary care physicians serve as a first contact for people as they navigate the health system — helping to identify risk factors for disease, more effectively manage chronic conditions and coordinate with specialists. All of this may add up to improved well-being and quality of life. In fact, people with a relationship with a primary care physician may be more likely to receive high-value care services, such as preventive screenings, and report better care access and experiences with the health-care system as compared to people without this type of care professional. The result is a 33% reduction in annual health-care costs for people with access to a primary care physician. Find the right doctor and care setting for you Finding the right physician and care setting may be a challenge for many people, in part because some individuals may not be aware of their options or how to compare the quality and cost of health-care professionals. There is often wide variation in the quality and cost of health care services, even though there is often little or no corresponding improvement in health outcomes for services
Black FROM PAGE 10
much needed water to the trees along the trail, and a new bridge at Holly Street. A feasibility study is underway for another underpass at Holly and Yale. After years of waiting, the paths in Hampden Heights are being replaced. New playgrounds are coming to Bible and McWilliams parks, and the planning process for the new U-Hills North Park will kick off in 2022. Denver and our world have changed so much in the past year, yet much of our work remains the same. City leaders care about every person and want to ensure that
(grape Hyacinth) and the dozens of species tulips and crocus — these are the original forms that most hybrids were developed from. All of these are especially durable and resilient for many years in the right conditions, getting us through that last bit of wintry weather with a ray of hope. When the smaller-species tulips begin to bloom, it’s easy to appreciate their jewellike colors, and easy to understand how a “tulip craze” started centuries ago and still continues today. The real showstoppers soon follow — ornamental onions, Allium and the foxtail lilies called Eremurus. These are native to open grasslands and mountain meadows from Europe to the Himalayas. The foxtails come in shades of pink and white, through yellow and orange, producing enormous spires of color from three-to-eight feet tall, above strappy leaves that soon disappear after flowering. Alliums are stunning with globes of flowers from white through many shades of purple and violet. Several species of allium are also native to arid portions of Colorado and the West, though most have smaller flowers. Though not true bulbs — technically fleshy rhizomes — bearded iris are a staple
in cold-climate gardens and they thrive in Colorado. While used easily in most traditional gardens, they are superbly adapted to drier gardens as well. The Water-Smart Garden features roughly a half dozen true bearded iris, but you will also see some of the more exotic looking specimens scattered through the plantings. These are called arilbred iris — complex hybrids between bearded iris and several wild species from dry regions of the Middle East. Not commonly grown, but well worth seeking out, they prefer drier summer conditions than the standard bearded iris. Their hallmark is often a goblet shape with ornate veining or brush marks on the petals, giving an exotic look. Watering all these bulbs is hardly a concern. The Water-Smart Garden is rarely irrigated before May, and then is watered only between six and 10 times through the growing season. This varies, depending on precipitation, but the garden is always allowed to become quite dry between watering. Keep in mind that the bulbs are just one layer in a diverse garden. This theme is echoed in the Steppe Garden, Plant Select Garden and parts of the Rock Alpine
performed by higher-priced care professionals. To help find the right health-care professional, people can compare publicly available, online patient-posted reviews to help research primary care professionals in their local areas. For a more detailed analysis, some health plans offer online search capabilities that identify quality care professionals, as determined by national standardized measures for performance and local geographic area benchmarks for cost-efficiency. More broadly, some health plans and hospitals make cost estimate information available online, including actual contracted rates for hundreds of “shoppable” medical services. When it comes to evaluating the right setting for care, a doctor’s office is not the only way to access in-person care. For instance, people enrolled in some Medicare Advantage plans may have access to programs that provide annual health and wellness visits from the convenience and privacy their homes.
the quality of the visit, compared to an inperson appointment, and that some patients vastly preferred a virtual experience, due to the convenience and the elimination of travel time. More broadly, a growing number of Americans are relying on virtual care for urgent care needs and remote patient monitoring programs to help manage more serious illnesses or chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. People can check with their health plan or local care professional
Go virtual Smartphones and computers are making it possible to access various types of care virtually, including with local physicians who are increasingly embracing this technology to “see” patients. This is especially important amid COVID-19, as many people continue to practice social distancing. There’s been a more than 10-fold increase in the use of virtual care since the emergence of COVID-19, including for urgent, preventive and chronic condition management. Other studies have shown that some people who see a doctor virtually report no difference in people are safe, healthy and housed. As we continue our citywide work on expanding affordable housing, increasing mobility options, maintaining a strong economy, expanding our green spaces and addressing climate issues, I hope that we will also continue our work to actively make Denver inclusive, welcoming and compassionate. We mustn’t lose the positive momentum for social change that was sparked last June. Kendra Black represents District 4 on Denver City Council. She can be reached at kendra. black@denvergov.org. Learn more about what’s happening in District 4 by visiting denvergov.org/district4 and signing up for District 4’s monthly e-newsletter at bit.ly/ southeastdenverscoop.
Some species of allium are native to arid portions of Colorado and the West. PHOTO BY SCOTT DRESSEL-MARTIN/DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS
Garden. Visit us at the Denver Botanic Gardens often to see what each changing season brings. Dan Johnson is the associate director of horticulture and curator of native plants for the Denver Botanic Gardens to determine what types of virtual resources may be available to them. To help make health a priority in 2021, don’t underestimate the potential impact of developing a relationship with a primary care physician as part of a holistic approach to maintaining and improving your wellbeing. Dr. Donna O’Shea is the chief medical officer of population health management for UnitedHealthcare
Discover
Locally-owned boutiques are not extinct! • Unique Gifts • Comfort Clothing • Jewelry • Cosmetics • Gifts for Baby • Luxury Bath Products • Large Selection of Greeting Cards May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month Enjoy the outdoors! Wallaroo® hats are in!
Wear a hat and wear sun protection! Erica’s is your source for Coola®, SkinCeuticals® and Dermalogica® Sunscreens.
I’ll help find the right one for you! Just minutes away | Easy Parking | We gift wrap
3490 S. Sherman St. • 303-762-0266 (2 blocks west of Swedish Hospital)
ericasboutiqueandskincare.com T – F 10:30 – 4:30, Sat. 10:30 – 4 *Special shopping hours can be arranged
Check us out on Instagram: ericasboutique_colorado
12 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
Explore Colorado nature as a pathway to health
W
hile the colder months and a pandemic have increased the amount of time Coloradans are spending at home and caused a heightened state of anxiety for GUEST so many, reaping the COLUMN health benefits of Happy Haynes being outside is more important than ever. It has been proven time and again that there is a positive connection between being outdoors in nature and improved physical and psychological well-being. According to a July 2020 article published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, any exposure to green space — even in a limited setting like an urban residential city street — is just as beneficial for health as visiting a natural setting or large public park. This is further supported by research that shows that spending even 20 minutes in a park can make people happier, reduce stress and boost social connections. So, regardless of the outdoor venue, any time spent outside — whether exercising or not — can provide some benefit to emotional, physical and mental health. Perhaps one silver lining from the COVID-19 era is that more Denver residents will continue to take advantage of the outdoors, given the limitations put on so many other activities and the increased stress the pandemic has caused. People need an outlet, and what better or easier way to accomplish this than to spend time outdoors. It not only brings vast health benefits, but it also supports a connection to others and to nature. These
Happy Haynes, executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation, enjoys the amenities at west Denver’s La Alma Lincoln Park. COURTESY PHOTO
benefits and the connections we make are particularly important as we meet the challenges of our new normal in a postpandemic world. Denver residents can take advantage of the sunny days and the many welcoming, diverse outdoor spaces in our community to get a mental and physical health boost from being outdoors. Denver and the surrounding areas have a plethora of
public parks, walking trails, green spaces and mountain parks to enjoy. Visit your local park or explore outdoor spaces beyond your community to get outside for a walk, play catch, ride your bike, visit a playground or spend time with family or friends. Even if you just go outside your door to look at the trees, walk around the block or take time to sit on a bench, remember
that being outside might just put a smile on your face. Happy Haynes is the executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation. To find a nearby neighborhood park, visit https:// tinyurl.com/yxw68xxf. This shortened link takes you to the interactive Find A Park feature on Denver Parks and Recreation’s website.
DEPENDABLE and DEPENDABLE DEPENDABLE andand KNOWLEDGEABLE agents KNOWLEDGEABLE KNOWLEDGEABLE agents agents FATHER O DEPENDABLE DEPENDABLE DEPENDABLE andandand Denver’s Best Thai Restaurant Mus seek customers looking for seekseek customers customers looking looking for for lady. Westword 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 ready to j DEPENDABLE and Military tr KNOWLEDGEABLE agents KNOWLEDGEABLE KNOWLEDGEABLE agents agents real PROTECTION and long realreal PROTECTION PROTECTION andand longlong KNOWLEDGEABLE agents ADVENTU seek customers looking for seek seek customers customers looking looking for for adventuro term RELATIONSHIPS. term term RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS. employed seek customers looking for Especially real PROTECTION and realreal PROTECTION PROTECTION andand long longlong cats. All r real PROTECTION and long Looking fo Featuring the Cuisine of Our Northern Thai Homeland term RELATIONSHIPS. term term RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS. Family Owned and Operated Since 1994
enu is Our 2021 M ! Sprouting
term RELATIONSHIPS.
Dining Room and Patio
Look no further. Look Look no further. no further.
Now Open! Reservations accepted at 303-762-9112 Take out and Curbside Service. Clean and Safe. Enjoy our backyard in your backyard. “Vibrant salads, all with the fresh flavors of Farrell’s kitchen garden” - Mark Antonation, Westword
Call 303-762-9112 or ORDER ONLINE at tasteofthailand.net
GRANOLA WORLD T dreams.M days and SINGLE, ARTSY LADY SEEKS SINGLE ARTSY GUY. If you of nowher love painting, decorating, baking and knitting, we are a Having one special person for your car, home and life insurance letsinsurance you get down to get camp, pit Having one Having special one person special for person your for car, your home car, and home life insurance and life lets you lets get down you to down to match. Please be over 30 and willing to take art classes. ® business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm – it’s we do, 24 / 7, 365. food, we ® what ® businessbusiness with the with rest of theyour restlife. of your We’re life.State We’re Farm State–Farm it’s what – it’s we what do, 24 / 7, we do,365. 24 / 7, 365. n ™ GET GET TO ATO BETTER . CONTACT ™ ™AN AGENT TODAY. GET A BETTER TOSTATE A BETTER STATE .STATE CONTACT . CONTACT AN AGENT AN TODAY. AGENT TODAY.
no further. LookLook noLook further. no further.
Having onefor special person forand your and lets you get Having one Having special one person special person your for car, your home car, home lifecar, insurance andhome life insurance letslife youinsurance lets get down you get to down to down to ® ® ® ® business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, 365. business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, businessbusiness with the with rest the of your rest life. of your We’re life.State We’re Farm State–Farm it’s what – it’s wewhat do, 24 / 7, we do,365. 24 / 7, 365. 365. ™ GET TO A BETTER STATE ™. CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. ™ ™ TO A BETTER . CONTACT ANTODAY. AGENT TODAY. GET TOGET A BETTER TO AGET BETTER STATE STATE . CONTACT . STATE CONTACT AN AGENT AN TODAY. AGENT BarbBarb FrankFrank Insur Agcy IncInsur Barb Insur Frank Agcy Inc Agcy Inc Barb Barb Frank,Frank, Agent Agent Barb Frank, Agent 261 S261 Downing St S St S Downing 261 Downing St Bus: Bus: 303-777-4989 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-777-4989 Barbwww.barbfrank.com Frank Insur www.barbfrank.com Agcy Inc www.barbfrank.com Barb Frank, Agent
Lori Rickert Insur AgcyAgcy IncInsur Lori Rickert LoriInsur Rickert Inc Agcy Inc Lori Rickert, Agent LoriAgent Rickert, Agent Lori Rickert, 714 South Pearl Street 714 South Pearl Street 714 South Pearl Street Bus: Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-757-7440 303-757-7440 www.loririckert.net Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc www.loririckert.net www.loririckert.net Lori Rickert, Agent
Barb Frank Insur Inc Lori Rickert Lori Rickert Inc Barb Frank BarbInsur Frank Agcy Insur Inc Agcy Inc Agcy LoriInsur Rickert Agcy Insur Inc AgcyInsur Inc Agcy 261 S Downing St 714 South Pearl Street Barb Frank, Agent LoriAgent Rickert, Agent Barb Frank, BarbAgent Frank, Agent Lori Rickert, LoriAgent Rickert, Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 ® 261 S Downing St 714 South Pearl Street statefarm.com 261 Sstatefarm.com Downing 261 Sstatefarm.com Downing St St ® 714 South 714 Pearl South Street Pearl Street ® www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-777-4989 Bus: 303-757-7440 Bus: 303-757-7440 www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net www.barbfrank.com www.barbfrank.com www.loririckert.net www.loririckert.net
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company State Farm State MutualFarm Automobile Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, InsuranceState Company, Farm State Indemnity FarmCompany Indemnity Company
State®Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL 1101202.1 statefarm.com State Farm State Fire and Farm Casualty Fire andCompany, CasualtyState Company, Farm State General Farm Insurance GeneralCompany, InsuranceBloomington, Company, Bloomington, IL IL 1101202.11101202.1
Washington Park Profile 13
May 1, 2021
A building that stands out in the city landscape Denver City Council to decide if Denver 7 building will receive landmark status By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Brutalist architecture, though popular in the 1960s and 1970s, isn’t necessarily everybody’s favorite style of architecture today. But there is one Brutalist building in particular in the Speer neighborhood that a few Denver residents feel is worth saving. And now, it is up to Denver City Council to decide whether to designate it with landmark status. The building in question is the KLZ Communications Center — more commonly known as the Denver 7 building — at 123 Speer Blvd. The Brutalist style of architecture is not well represented in the city’s portfolio of landmarks, said Michael Henry, chair of the Historic Preservation committee for the Neighbors for Greater Capitol Hill, which is a registered neighborhood organization. “The Denver 7 building is an outstanding example of Brutalism,” Henry said. He, along with Brad Cameron and David Wise, “felt it was worth the effort to try to save it rather than see it demolished.” The Denver 7 building was constructed in 1969, and its prime location at the cross-streets of Speer and Lincoln makes it quite visible — its five-story tower on the west side of the property being the most iconic portion of the structure. The color, which comes from Colorado-sourced red sandstone, is also worth noting, Henry said, adding that most Brutalist buildings are grey-ish in color because of the use of concrete materials. “It stands out in our city landscape,” Cameron said. “Thousands of people pass by it daily. Its demolition would leave a gapping hole in Denver’s landscape.” The property is owned by Scripps Media, the parent company of KMGH Denver 7. The company would like to sell the building and relocate its operations to a different centrally-located and more modern building, which had not been determined as of the beginning of April. However, the property has a potential buyer — a “highly respected developer of mixed-use projects in urban neighborhoods through the United States,” states a letter from Dean Littleton, vice president and general manager of Denver 7, to the city’s landmark preservation commission. Littleton’s letter also states that the news operation has outgrown its current building, and additionally, the news station’s staff faces the challenge of operating in an antiquated building that was “purpose-built to serve the needs of a 1970s television studio, before the advent of the technology, connectedness and collaboration that define the industry today.” Cameron, Henry and Wise filed for the landmark designation in response to a public notice of a Certificate of Demolition Eligibility application for the property, which was filed in late November and submitted to Denver’s Community Planning & Development on Dec. 4. The city’s landmark staff, however, found that the Denver 7 building may have potential for a landmark designation and posted the public notice of the Certificate of Demolition Eligibility application. Information on the city’s website states that “if a Certificate of Demolition Eligibility is issued, a property owner or owner’s agent may proceed with a demolition appli-
Some Denver residents believe the Denver 7 building, with its prominent location at Speer Boulevard and Lincoln Street, is worth COURTESY OF BRAD CAMERON preserving to maintain the city’s landscape.
cation without further Landmark Preservation review for a period of five years.” Landmark status would protect the exterior of the building, and would make demolition a more difficult task. Scripps Media argues that if the Denver 7 building receives historic designation, it would present a challenge to sell the property by placing “significant restrictions and procedural requirements on our — or any future owner’s — ability to make needed modifications to the structure to accommodate our business or that of another user.” Cameron, Henry and Wise argue that because the property itself takes up an entire city block, there could possibly be some sort of adaptive reuse project on the property. Because of application requirements, the three had to include the entire building in the landmark application, but what Cameron refers to as the “north box” of the building — which is adjacent to Lincoln and Seventh Avenue — could be sacrificed if the tower can be saved, he said. The landmark application does not include the parking lot along Sherman Street. On April 6, Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission voted 6-to-1 to forward the decision on the landmark application to city council. The commission’s Brad Gassman voted no. He pointed out that he did not believe the property met all of the criteria required for landmark designation — one being that the property does not have “a direct association with a significant historic event or with the historical development of the city, state, or nation.” Gassman tended to agree with a statement in a rebuttal prepared by Heritage Consulting Group, which was hired by Denver 7 to assess the property’s eligibility for designation under the applicable criteria: “As a radio and television news studio and broadcasting station, the journalists at Denver 7 have reported on numerous historic events. These events, however, were only documented by the station. The station and its journalists themselves are not the history, but only bring those stories to the community. It is a key ethos of journalism that the reporter and the news outlet are
WHAT IS BRUTALISM? “In the early 1950s, a group of British architects championed an architectural style they identified as Brutalism, and introduced the term to the English-speaking world. Brutalism was often defined by the use of raw concrete construction unabashedly expressed. By the 1980s, Brutalist architecture was no longer popular, but in recent years there has been renewed interest in Brutalism, which emphasizes the visceral qualities of its construction.” Source: Denver Architecture Foundation The website www.coloradocatalyst.com identifies a number of buildings in Denver that have Brutalist qualities, though not all are landmarked as so. They are: Boettcher Memorial Center at Denver Botanic Gardens — York Street (Cheesman Park)
Denver Police headquarters — 1331 Cherokee St. (Golden Triangle)
Clyfford Still Museum — 1250 Bannock St. (Golden Triangle)
Federal Reserve Bank building/money museum — 1020 16th St. (CBD/downtown Denver)
Cherry Creek Corporate Center — 4500 Cherry Creek Drive South (Glendale)
Martischang Building — 5335 W. 48th Ave. (Regis)
Colorado Education Association — 1500 Grant St. (Capitol Hill/Uptown border)
Oneida Tower — 2121 South Oneida St. (Goldsmith)
Denver 7 building — 123 Speer Blvd. (Speer)
Renaissance Hotel — 3801 Quebec St. (Northeast Park Hill)
Denver Fire Station No. 12 — 2575 Federal Blvd. (Sloan Lake)
United Airlines Flight Training Center — 7500 E. 35th Ave. (Central Park)
not the news. They are only a conduit for the news to the community. Denver 7 has adhered to this ethos throughout its history, and the location and the Denver 7 Building itself are not associated with any significant historic event.” Cameron, Henry and Wise disagree, however, stating in their application that “the KLZ Communications Center is significant for its direct and substantial association with the historical development of the television communications industry in Denver. For over 50 years, the iconic building has been the center of operations for one of Denver’s oldest television stations … and the property at 123 E. Speer Boulevard has been the station’s home since it first went on the air in 1953. The impressive and memorable building embodies the history of KLZ Channel 7 and serves as a physical representation of the local televi-
sion industry’s explosive growth during the 1960s into the preeminent source of news and entertainment for Denver-area residents.” “Back in the 1960s,” Cameron added in an interview, “the television station wanted a monumental building to mark the significance of the station. They were making a statement.” The landmarking issue went to Denver’s to Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure (LUTI), which is a committee made up of city councilmembers, on April 20 and passed it along to the entire city council body. It is expected that city council will entertain a public hearing and vote on the matter on May 10. “We’re happy to have gotten the support of the landmark” commission, Cameron said. “But the question now is, what will city council opt to do.”
14 Washington Park Profile
C
May 1, 2021
Building bikes for community
ommunity members from across the Denver-metro area to volunteer building bikes with Can’d Aid. The event took place on April 22 on Infinite Monkey Theorem’s patio in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Spaced out to adhere to social distancing, the volunteers built 35 bikes that were donated to the middle schoolers at Peak Expeditionary School in Wheat Ridge to be part of the youths’ physical education programming. Can’d Aid is a Colorado-based national nonprofit that helps build communities through its various programs and volunteer opportunities. The bike build was part of the Treads + Trails program. To learn more about Can’d Aid, visit https://candaid.org.
Amanda Willshire of northwest Denver discovered her love of welding through volunteer work, she said. Willshire has volunteered with Can’d Aid before, but the April 22 event was the first time she had built bikes with the organization. PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN
Eric Brodell of Arvada ran a program similar to Can’d Aid in Indiana about eight years ago, before he moved to Colorado, he said. His two passions are bikes and working with youth, he added.
Duncan Parrish of Englewood has volunteered with Can’d Aid a few times in the past. He said he loves bikes and believes every child should have access to a bike that they can ride.
Jan Lee Bland enjoys volunteering. She lives in Johnstown but works in Denver. Though she had never built bikes before, she decided to volunteer with Can’d Aid for the April 22 event because it was for a good cause.
Need A Little Help?
Friends and roommates of northeast Denver, Kelsey Thompson, left, and Autumn Brennan, had been looking into additional volunteer opportunities. Though they had never built bikes before, they saw Can’d Aid’s event on Facebook and thought it sounded like fun.
Want to Give A Little Help? Then call A Little Help. 720-242-9032
We connect neighbors across ages to enhance lives and strengthen communities. Neighbors Can Help: • Provide rides for appointments and errands • Friendly visits • Light yard work
• Handy services • Snow shoveling • Technology help
Connecting neighbors across ages to enhance lives and strengthen communities.
Find out more about A Little Help at www.alittlehelp.org
Washington Park Profile 15
May 1, 2021
New program to merge art and research Latino Cultural Arts Center hopes to ‘bring theory back to the people’ By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com
The Latino Cultural Arts Center is launching a new residence program that merges art and research. The goal of the new program, which is called Popul/Arte: Merging Art, Culture and Theory, is to bring higher education to the public through the creative arts at no cost to anyone who would like to participate, states a news release. “Academia can give people the tools to lift their communities through knowledge, creativity, art and innovation. However, it is inaccessible financially and mostly reluctant to communicate clearly with non-specialist audiences. Popul/Arte seeks to change that by bringing theory back to the people,” states the news release. Popul/Arte takes place May 18-June 12. For each of those weeks, Popul/Arte will consist of two workshops — one lecture and one art workshop — will
be offered virtually. The overarching theme for the lectures and art workshops together is Peace and Conflict in Latin America: Violence, Resistance and Social Justice. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about everyday artivism and grassroots organizing to institutional and international advocacy, states the news release. The lectures will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. each Tuesday for the duration of the program. Lectures will be presented by Michael Wilson-Becerril, Ph.D., of Mexico City, Mexico, who will “explore decolonial approaches to peace, conflict and environmental justice,” states a news release. He will present a different topic each week. The art workshops will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. each Saturday. Five artists part of a Negr á frica, will lead the workshops. Negr á frica is a Brazilian artist collective, and the artists are Mayara Smith, Camila Parreiras, Dailey Gonçalves, Jéssica Goés and Leticia Moreno. Their art is focused on investigating identity, race and their experiences as Black women. The specialize in a variety of mediums that include comics, photography, painting, drawing and poetry, states a news release. Attendees will learn “Brazlian concepts of making art with resources
around you to amplify your creative expression and voice,” states the news release. Popul/Arte will culminate in a public presentation of a co-created art project that will live in the Latino Cultural Arts Center’s library. Everybody is welcome to participate in Popul/Arte, and it is free for anyone to attend. All materials will be available online to the widest audience possible through free and engaging multimedia, states the news release. Registration is now open, and can be done online at http://bit.ly/popul-arte. The Latino Cultural Arts Center is a Denver-based nonprofit. To learn more, visit www.lcac-denver.org.
Popul/Arte Workshop Schedule Week 1 May 18: Lecture — Imagining Latin America May 22: Art workshop — Seeing Through Your Window Week 2 May 25: Lecture — Violence, Colonialism, and Militarism May 29: Art workshop — Fanzine Week 3 June 1: Lecture — Resisting Violence and Organizing Peace June 5: Art workshop — Improvised Art Collage Week 4 June 8: Lecture — Environmental Crisis and Decolonial Futures June 12: Art workshop — Eco-Painting
What’s going on in my hometown? From special events to local politics, We’ve got you covered.
Local News , it makes a difference. Get DIRECTV and get a year of HBO Max included.
DON’T JUST KINDA TV. DIRECTV.
Where HBO meets so much more. Subj. to change. HBO Max auto-renews after 12 months at then prevailing rate (currently $14.99/mo.), and Cinemax,® SHOWTIME,® STARZ,® and EPIX® are included for 3 months and auto-renew thereafter at then prevailing rate (currently $38.96/mo.), unless you call to change or cancel. Req’s you to select offers
J.D. POWER RANKED AT&T/DIRECTV #1 IN THE NATION IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FOR TV SERVICE J.D. Power also ranked us highest in these impressive categories:
69
$
Watch your favorite live sports, news and entertainment anywhere
CHOICE ™ Package
99
#1 in Communications and Promotions #1 in Features and Functionality
DIRECTV offers more top premium channels than DISH
mo
For 12 mos. plus taxes and fees. W/24-mo. agmt. Autopay & paperless bill req’d. Prices higher in 2nd year. Regional Sports Fee up to $9.99/mo. is extra & applies.*
#1 in Programming
Tied in 2020. Study based upon consumer experiences with AT&T U-verse and DIRECTV. For J.D. Power 2020 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards.
Don’t settle for cable. Call now! Iv Support Holdings LLC
1-877-220-6081
1-YR ALL INCLUDED OFFER: Ends 5/1/21. Available only in the U.S. (excludes Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.). Pricing for first 12 mos. only. After 12 mos. or loss of eligibility, then prevailing rate applies (currently $122/mo. for CHOICE), unless canceled or changed prior to end of the promo period. Pricing subj to change. $5/mo. autopay/paperless bill discount: Must enroll in autopay & paperless bill within 30 days of TV activation to receive bill credit starting in 1-3 bill cycles. First time credit will include all credits earned since meeting offer requirements. Must maintain autopay/paperless bill and valid email address to continue credits. No credits in 2nd year for autopay/paperless bill. Includes: CHOICE Pkg., monthly service & equipment fees for one Genie HD DVR, and standard pro installation. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes applicable use tax expense surcharge on retail value of installation, custom installation, equipment upgrades/add-ons (min. $99 one-time & $7/mo. monthly fees for each extra receiver/DIRECTV Ready TV/Device), and certain other add’l fees & charges. Call for additional details. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling unit and telco customers. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. Programming, pricing, promotions, restrictions & terms subject to change & may be modified, discontinued or terminated at any time without notice. Offers may not be combined with other promotional offers on the same services and may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Other conditions apply to all offers. HBO Max: Access to HBO Max is included with your HBO add-on subscription at no extra charge. Access HBO Max through HBO Max app or hbomax.com with your AT&T log-in credentials. Compatible device or browser required. Visit att.com/myatt to verify/create your account. Use of HBO Max is subject to its own terms and conditions, see hbomax.com/terms-of-use for details. Programming and content subj. to change. Upon cancellation of your video service you may lose access to HBO Max. Limits: Access to one HBO Max account per AT&T account holder. May not be stackable w/other offers, credits or discounts. To learn more, visit att.com/hbomax. HBO Max is only accessible in the U.S. and certain U.S. territories where a high-speed broadband connection is available. Minimum 3G connection is required for viewing on mobile devices. HBO MAX is used under license. ©2021 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners
16 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
Nominations sought for Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award Staff report The City of Denver and its Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award Committee are seeking nominations for a community member to be honored with the 2021 Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award. Nominees should demonstrate: Equality of all people — Dedication and conviction to stand for equal opportunity of all people. Mentoring — Encouragement and mentorship to those who seek to act upon their civic leadership. Service — Extraordinary service focused on the improvement of the local, national or global community. Leadership — Willingness to assume responsibility for leadership and take necessary risks to improve the community. The nominee who best demonstrates the above attributes will be presented with the award by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock at the annual Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City Luncheon, which is expected to take place in August this year. Anyone is welcome to submit a nomination, which can be done by an online nomination form on the city’s website. A shortened direct link to the award’s page is: https://tinyurl.com/4fw2rx7c. Or, visit the city of Denver’s website at www.denvergov. org and type in Monte Pascoe in the search
on the homepage. The history of the award dates back to 2006 when the first Denver Civic Leadership Award was presented to Monte Pascoe posthumously to honor his legacy. According to a news release, Pascoe “exemplified the importance of civic engagement and leadership.” A Denver Post article dated March 2, 2006, states that Pascoe died that day at age 71. He was a graduate of East High School and he and his wife raised three children in their longtime family home near Cheesman Park. A prominent Denver lawyer, Pascoe helped file a lawsuit heard by the U.S. Supreme Court which ordered Denver Public Schools to desegregate its educational facilities. He also was a trustee for the Colorado School of Mines for 12 years and was president of the Iliff School of Theology Board of Trustees. Pascoe’s other leadership accomplishments include serving as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, a commissioner on the Denver Water Board and chairing the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. No one was honored with the award in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, all receipts between 2006 and 2019 can be found on the webpage mentioned above.
COURTESY IMAGE
First Fridays on South Pearl Street Staff report The merchants of South Pearl Street have resumed the First Fridays Art and Shop Walk. Along with numerous art galleries and boutique shops to browse, and dining establishments to enjoy, First Fridays feature a variety of
live entertainment. First Fridays will take place from 4-9 p.m. May 7, June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1 in the 1200 to 1800 blocks of South Pearl Street in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood. Learn more about South Pearl Street by visiting www.southpearlstreet.com.
Pop Up Garden Market in Southeast Denver Beautify your home with the highest quality and largest variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, hanging baskets and more. Corner of Monaco & Evans, 2150 S. Monaco Parkway, Denver, CO 80222 (720) 682-2977 • Open Now thru June 30 9 AM-6 PM MONDAY-SATURDAY, 9 AM-5 PM SUNDAY | DENVER • GOLDEN • CASTLE ROCK • LITTLETON • ERIE
Washington Park Profile 17
May 1, 2021
Three steps to writing your story of recovery from addiction And save lives in the process
R
emember long ago, before you ever acknowledged that drugs and alcohol were making your decisions for you? If you’re like me, in the beginning of your GUEST drinking and using, COLUMN you thought you were just partying and having a good time. I took my first drink at age 11, then went on to snorting cocaine and smoking weed at 12 or 13, which continued through my years as a star high school Adam Vibe Gunton athlete — you know, just for “fun.” I couldn’t have imagined I would eventually find myself homeless, kneeling on the floor of a crack house, staring up the barrel of a loaded gun, wishing the dealer would pull the trigger and end my misery. Or that I still wouldn’t be able to get sober after I had my lifeless, OD’ed body dragged out from behind the wheel of a running car — all recorded on a policeman’s bodycam. As a kid, I didn’t pay attention to the “Just Say No” campaigns or the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) people who gave talks at school. What did they know about my life? These police officers or teachers who have no idea what it’s like to be a kid now, telling me what to do? If only I’d heard warnings from people I could relate to — people who grew up like me who got seriously hooked on drugs and crawled out the other side to tell their stories. Them. I might have listened to them. I didn’t have those people and maybe you didn’t either. But now you can be that person for someone else. All you need to make an impact on the lives of the future is your own story. Your real-life, true story of your own personal battle of drug addiction and recovery. How? By writing a book about your experiences. That’s it. That’s literally all you need to do to craft and prepare your story to share. Not only will you steer others away from addiction and give struggling addicts the encouragement they may need to get clean, but by sharing your stories, you’ll be attaching yourself to a life of purpose which is the ultimate relapse prevention for yourself. I published my first best-selling autobiography, “From Chains to Saved,” on the second anniversary of my sobriety.
Writing a book proved a cathartic way for me to focus on personal fulfillment rather than spending the rest of my days defining myself as an addict in recovery who has to obsess about the possibility of relapsing. Do you know what? Writing a book is easy. Mine took five weeks, and I’d never written a book before. I figured out three simple steps to organize my thoughts and decide what to include. If you’re ready to embark on this life-affirming journey, here are the three simple steps you can take. Mind Dump Story Vault For your first step, get yourself a whiteboard, piece of paper or a computer program for writing and make what I call a Mind Dump Story Vault. Write at the top of the page, “Mind Dump Story Vault,” and draw dashes all the way down the left side of the page. Think of every meaningful experience you have had in your life that you may or may not want to tell in your story. Then set a timer for 25 minutes and write down every personal experience you can think of using five words or less. For example, instead of writing, “the time I went to the casino with $25 dollars to my name and I met that guy with the eye patch that taught me how to play poker and I made $100,” just write, “eye patch.” Something short for you to know what story you are talking about in order to just get it down into existence in your story vault. Jot down every life experience you can think of. Don’t leave anything out and limit yourself to five words so you can move through as fast as possible. If the timer buzzes and you’re not done, take a five-or 10-minute break. Walk around your room, get a glass of water, call your mom and tell her you love her. Then set the timer again for another 25 minutes and keep going. Do this as many times as you need until you’ve written down every story you remember.
An example of Adam Vibe Gunton’s recovery story map.
the hub and spokes of a bicycle wheel — draw a big circle in the middle with five lines coming out and a small circle at the far end of each line. Add the numbers 1-5 in the small circles so that each circle has one number inside. If you have a working title for your book, write that in the big circle in the middle. Now, pick no more than three stories from each numeric category to go in your book. Choose the stories that are the most powerful — the ones that have had the most impact on your life. Don’t worry about leaving out something you want in there just yet. The key is to have a 15-story first draft before adding any more that you really want to get across. Don’t worry about how you’re going
COURTESY DRAWING
to get from one story to the next. My book was a series of short stories without transitions, and I’ve gotten tremendous positive feedback from around the world. I hope you will, too. Don’t let your story die with you. There is someone out there who needs to hear your story. Be the person you wish you had when you were in their situation. And if you need some help, Recovered On Purpose can get you there.
Adam Vibe Gunton of Denver is the founder of Recovered On Purpose, a movement that helps recovered addicts tell their story and inspire the future generation to a life of purpose. To learn more about his movement of recovery, visit https://recoveredonpurpose.com/.
Categories Next, assign each story a number from one to five. These are your categories. They’ll help you organize your stories into time periods. However, whether you choose to write them chronologically in your manuscript is up to you. 1- before addiction 2- the beginning of addiction 3 - during active addiction 4 - through the recovery process 5 - post addiction My recovery story map Finally, draw a story map that looks like
Dr. Stratil and Dr. Wright
Dr. Stratil and Dr. Wright Dr. Stratil and Dr. Wright
We’re STILL making it personal! We’ rereSTILL personal! We’ STILL making making ititpersonal!
DENVER’S PREMIER INSTALLER OF VINYL, WOOD, AND FIBERGLASS REPLACEMENT WINDOWS! Over 30 Years’ Experience EPA Lead Safe Firm • Honest Pricing
Call us for a free, no-hassle consultation
720-295-0362 windowdoctorofcolorado.com
Its been 6 years, and The Dentists on Pearl still want to get Its been 6years, years, The Dentists stilltoday want toto get to know you! to know you! and So, come on on in Pearl oron call schedule an been and The Dentists want to to get Its Its been 6 6years, and The Dentists onPearl Pearlstill still want get So,appointment come on in orSo, callfor today schedule an appointment for the entire family. theto entire family. We will create a an plan that know you! come on in or to to know you! So, come on in or call calltoday todaytotoschedule schedule an We will create a planyou that will you achieve and a completely healthysmile! smile! will help and maintain a completely healthy appointment forachieve thehelp entire family. Wemaintain will create a plan that appointment for the entire family. We will create a plan that accept most and accepting new patients! We accept mostinsurances insurances and areaare accepting new patients! willWe help you achieve and maintain completely healthy smile!
will help you achieve and maintain a completely healthy smile! We accept most insurances and are accepting new patients! We accept most insurances and are accepting new patients!
1905 South SOUTHPearl PEARL STREET 1905 Street 1905 SOUTH PEARL STREET 303.498.9207
303.498.9207 1905303.498.9207 SOUTH PEARL STREET thedentistsonpearl.com thedentistsonpearl.com 303.498.9207 thedentistsonpearl.com
18 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
ART FOR ALL
From wall-sized postcards to optical illusions, public art turns Denver into a giant gallery By Belen Ward
bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com
F
The mural of George Floyd, located at East Colfax Avenue and High Street, which borders the Cheesman Park and City Park West neighborhoods, is painted by artists PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD Detour aka Thomas Evans and Hiero Veiga.
or New York-born artist Victor Ving, Colorado looks like craft beer, skiers and Red Rocks Amphitheatre. “At each stop, I collaborate with local artists, businesses and residents to create a piece of true public art that engages the local community,” said Ving. The result of his effort is plain for all to see: His mural “Greetings from Denver” located at 1695 Platte St. in Denver’s Highland neighborhood, is one of 40 murals Ving has created across the country, offering his take — a vintage postcard view painted on public buildings — as a salute to the cities he visits. It’s one of the many street-facing artworks commissioned by the city of Denver, picked by a local panel and free to see, just for the looking. Denver holds a collection of more than 400 pieces of art in a variety of media — some combine sight and sound, others are light-based works or interactive new media, temporary fiber-based works or performance-based works. The collections are spread throughout the city. Public art in cities boosts the economy, culturally and socially, according to the Denver Arts and Venues Public Art program. Public art creates a history of the past, present and future. Within a neighborhood, public art creates uniqueness in the space as a community grows. Established by former Denver Mayor Federico Peña in 1988 via an executive
FOR MORE INFORMATION To tour Denver street art, go to www. denver.org/things-to-do/denver-artsculture/street-art. For information on how to apply for Denver public art opportunities, visit www.callforentry.org or call the Public Art Program at 720-865-5563. order, the Denver Public Art Program sets aside 1% of any capital improvement project over $1 million for public art. For more than 30 years, the city has developed a collection of artworks and accepted donations of art. According to the city’s rules, the collection must be a permanent structure to amplify the space. The artists represent a wide range of cultural diversity and are selected in a transparent process by a panel of community members who live and work near the project site. The panel writes the call for entry, and reviews the application and the project site. Then the panel selects the artists and interviews the semifinalist and finalist. Once the artists or groups are selected, the selection is forwarded to the Public Art Committee and the Mayor’s Commission on Cultural Affairs to make the final decision. Denver Arts & Venues plans the public art program and the Mayor’s Commission on Cultural Affairs administrators the activities and policies regarding public art. SEE ART, P19
“Denver 1859” was painted by Delton Demarest and Harrison Nealey using an aerosol can in an alley half a block north near 15th and Platte streets.
Full Service Veterinary Care in the Comfort of Your Home Serving metro Denver since 1985 Dr. Sherri Folkestad • DVM (Sherri Somerville)
303-904-1989 | www.housecallvetservice.com
Washington Park Profile 19
May 1, 2021
Art FROM PAGE 18
Travels with Victor Ving, from New York City, started his nationwide “Greetings Tour” in 2015. He travels full-time in his RV, working to create the landmark murals in each city. The artwork resembles a postcard capturing the cities and communities. Ving is a former New York City graffiti artist and the founder of Klughaus, a creative agency specializing in large-scale mural art. “The ‘Greetings from Chinatown’ mural in New York City was painted in 2014, (and) was the first piece I did where we noticed the potential of how much our artwork can positively affect the community,” said Ving. “I went on a West Coast road trip later that summer, and was inspired by others that I saw living on the road. I decided to take a chance to paint and travel full time. I hit the road in spring 2015 and have been loving the lifestyle since.” Ving lets his travel schedule determine his next project. “My travels are loosely based around our commissioned project schedule,” he said. “If there are cities along the way that I connect with, I’ll try to make those murals happen en route to the next destination. “My current priority is creating murals in states where we have not painted in yet. The larger goal is to eventually paint in all 50 states and then take the project global. This is the way I make a living and it is my fulltime job. However, from time to time I have donated my services to some good causes that align with my values and mission.” The public art show continues — just down the street in an alley, a half-block north, is the “Denver 1859” mural. It is
“Greetings from Denver,” located at 1695 Platte St. in the Highland neighborhood, was painted by Victor Ving, who travels the PHOTO BY BELEN WARD country full-time in his RV creating large postcard paintings on buildings.
painted by Delton Demarest and Harrison Nealey using an aerosol can with an array of colors to paint the history of Denver since 1859. Demarest is a graffiti artist and a freelance illustrator working in the commercial and fine arts industries. Nealey is a metal fabricator by trade and creates abstract art using a variety of mediums and found objects. Louvered illusion At Larimer and 27th streets, the mural “Larimer Boy and Girl” was painted by artist Jeremy Burns on a building exterior that
is a full vertical concrete louver. That means that depending on the viewer’s perspective, you either see a boy with a bewildered expression on his face or a gloomy girl. Burns has been living and creating art in the RiNo area since 2004. Santa Fe Arts District On the corner of 9th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive is the “Mermaid,” painted by Access Gallery students Josiah Lee Lopez and Ratha Sok. Access Gallery is a Santa Fe Drive program for people with disabilities to have artistic opportunities around Denver. The “Mermaid” is painted on the
corner of the building with colorful flowing hair appearing as though she’s swimming in the ocean. Lopez has been working for more than 29 years and started his passion for drawing and painting in high school. He has been a graffiti writer and muralist since mid-1990. He received his bachelor of fine arts from Metropolitan State University and a master of fine arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Both Lopez and Sok have been with Access Gallery for about eight years. SEE ART, P23
Got a taste of virtual learning and liked it?
Enrollment open for 2020/21 Private Kindergarten and 2020 School-Age Summer Camp Celebrating 56 Years
Then you’ll be happy to know you can continue to be a virtual learner next year! Jeffco Virtual Academy is here for you! JVA has been offering 6-12 grade students an online learning path since 2009. We’re proud to provide full-time program options to residents of Colorado-Middle School, High School, Credit Recovery, Credit Advancement, and Concurrent Enrollment for college credit. JVA is a Jeffco Public School and has been offering 6-12 grade students a tuition-free online learning path since 2009. These programs expose students to challenging coursework with academic and social support. All programs have optional on-campus and virtual synchronous learning opportunities.
Interested in finding more about JVA in an upcoming Information Session, visit www.jeffcovirtual.org or email jeffcovirtualacademy@jeffco.k12.co.us
20 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
PROTECT YOUR HOME 365 DAYS A YEAR BACKED BY A YEAR-ROUND
NATIO
INSTALLS ON NEW & EXISTING GUTTERS
2
uPVC Frame
Hanger Existing Gutter
EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER!
15
%
OFF
YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE *
+
10
SENIORS & MILITARY!
%
OFF
+
2
D
WARRANTY
Micromesh
4
ER GUA
LIFETIME
1
3
’S
GU
TT
1
R
E
N
TH
CLOG-FREE GUARANTEE
5
“LeafFilter was a great investment for our home.” –Bill & Jan.
%
OFF
TO THE FIRST 50 CALLERS ONLY! **
FINANCING THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET!
1
Promo Code: 285
Keeps Out All Debris Completely sealed system protects your gutters — and entire home — from damaging debris.
Subject to credit approval. Call for details.
1
CALL US TODAY FOR
A FREE ESTIMATE
1-844-618-9585
WE INSTALL
YEAR-ROUND!
Mon-Thurs: 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-5pm, Sun: 2pm-8pm EST *For those who qualify. One coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. **Offer valid at time of estimate only 2The leading consumer reporting agency conducted a 16 month outdoor test of gutter guards in 2010 and recognized LeafFilter as the “#1 rated professionally installed gutter guard system in America.” CSLB# 1035795 DOPL #10783658-5501 License# 7656 License# 50145 License# 41354 License# 99338 License# 128344 License# 218294 WA UBI# 603 233 977 License# 2102212986 License# 2106212946 License# 2705132153A License# LEAFFNW822JZ License# WV056912 License# WC-29998-H17 Nassau HIC License# H01067000 Registration# 176447 Registration# HIC.0649905 Registration# C127229 Registration# C127230 Registration# 366920918 Registration# PC6475 Registration# IR731804 Registration# 13VH09953900 Registration# PA069383 Suffolk HIC License# 52229-H License# 2705169445 License# 262000022 License# 262000403 License# 0086990 Registration# H-19114
Washington Park Profile 21
May 1, 2021
Denver donates 13 bison to Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma City officials hope the donation is the beginning of a new tradition By Esteban L. Hernandez, Denverite
Mayor Michael Hancock joined Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes Gov. Reggie Wassana on April 2 at Genesee Park as Denver embarked on what officials hope is a new tradition: donating bison from its herd to tribal nations. The city donated 13 bison to the federally recognized tribe based in Oklahoma, holding a brief ceremony in Golden before the animals were loaded onto trailers for a 10-hour trip to their new home. Wassana said the animals will be used to help provide food for tribal members and breed more bison. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have about 13,000 members, Wassana said, adding that some live in Colorado. He said the tribal nation would like to expand its relationship with the city and the state. He called the donation a “great, grand gesture.” “We’re proud to be here,” Wassana said. “We like coming back here. We consider this part of our homeland.” The donated bison, or buffalo, as many of the tribal members called them, are descendants of herds from Yellowstone National Park. Typically,
Denver donated 13 bison to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma. PHOTO BY ESTEBAN L. HERNANDEZ/DENVERITE
extra bison are auctioned off, generating some revenue for the city and helping promote genetic diversity for
the species. The city keeps two herds in its mountain parks — Genesee, where they’re visible from the highway, and
Daniels Park in Sedalia. The donation was completed with help from the Denver American Indian Commission. A bill, introduced by Denver City Councilmember Jamie Torres, will formally approve the bison donation and ensure this practice continues through 2030. Torres said she doesn’t want the city to go back to auctioning the bison. Hancock called the donation a chance to honor people who “cared for this land before anyone else in the world knew of this land.” He said the city shares a common vision with tribal partners to return and restore bison to their historical habitats. “This is a very intentional relationship that we’re working to forge here,” Hancock said. A land acknowledgment statement usually read at Denver City Council meetings was read on April 2 by Happy Haynes, Denver’s executive director of parks and recreation. It acknowledges that the city is the traditional territory of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people, as well as the Ute people. Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Scott Gilmore said an additional bison will be donated to the Tall Bull Memorial Council. The donated bison are all females. This story is from Denverite, a nonprofit Denver news source affiliated with CPR News. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.
NEW SHOWER
SALE! $799OFF OFF
NO
S H O W E R S A N D B AT H S
Dreamstyle Shower System
18
MONTHS
WITH
PLUS
–INTEREST –PAYMENTS –MONEY DOWN
FREE SHOWER DOOR
*
FOR THIS MONTH ONLY
Richard Karn Home Improvement Expert
Call TODAY for a FREE consultation
We’re only offering these savings for this month only! You must book your appointment by the end of the month.
877-875-2951
*0% APR for 18 months available to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. Financing not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Finance charges will be waived if promo balance is paid in full in 18 months. Down payment may be required, OAC. Valid with the purchase of a complete Dreamstyle Shower Systems. Due to COVID, some restrictions may apply. Dreamstyle Remodeling, Inc. (fn) ROC260542 B-3. ©Dreamstyle Remodeling Inc. all rights reserved. Lic. PC0003837
22 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
Service Directory
CALL TO PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! 303-566-4100 Help Wanted
Merchandise
Handyman
Lawn/Garden Services
Jewelry
HOME REPAIRS & REMODELING Household repairs, remodeling projects, drywall, floor & wall tile, interior trim, plumbing repairs, vinyl installation, locks, caulking, cabinets, countertops, bathroom remodels, basements, new faucets, garbage disposals, wall patching, texturing, interior painting & much more! Top quality. Reasonable rates. Call Mike at 303-587-2610.
Ross Tree Company
SOWILO ARTISAN JEWELRY New Location New Hours CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE Colorado Community Media seeks to hire a Classified Advertising Sales Associate to join our team. Position requires data entry, working with clients to renew ads, collect payments and will make outbound calls to new customers. Candidate must be proficient with all Microsoft products and have excellent customer service skills. Must be detail oriented and organized. Previous experience working with deadlines is highly desirable but not required. Must be able to work with multiple projects at one time, ensuring there are no errors. This position is full time with hourly pay working in our Englewood office. To apply please put Classified Advertising Sales Associate in subject line and email resume to eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com. No phone calls please.
Misc. Notices REAL ESTATE Beautiful 4-unit apartment complex in West Washington Park. Location, Location, Location! Fully refurbished, in-unit HVAC units, in-unit washer/ driers. Can be rented as Airbnb, corporate, or long-term rental. Fully furnished, decorated, and stocked. Call at 303-261-2577 or visit www. incomeproperty4saleDenver.com for more information.
Hand Crafted Silver Jewelry, Custom Design, Silver Jewelry Restoration and Repair 999 Vallejo, Unit 3, Studio 4K Denver 80204 (303) 548-5467 sowiloartisanjewelry.com Hours: Saturday 11:00 – 4:00 with Special Hours for the Holidays Consultations for Custom Design and Repairs by Appointment
Carpentry R.M. DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION Pro Master Builder, Nationally Known Craftsman. Specialist in historical preservation of older and historic homes. All Phases of Construction, Design. Structural, Woodwork, Windows, Door Restoration. No Job Too Small. Randall 303-646-3461. rmdesignconst.com.
Drywall THE WALL REBUILDER Cracks? Holes? Ugly texture? We fix any kind of damage in any age home. Plaster (and Drywall) Repair/ Remodel www.wallrebuilder.com Laura and Dan Pino 303-698-1057 Free Estimates.
Lawn/Garden Services CLEAN-UPS/ YARD MAINTENANCE/ SNOW REMOVAL Hauling and yard clean-up. Longtime Baker neighborhood resident; 30 yrs. exp. Insured, references. Free estimates. Call Lou R. Varlaro, 303-868-1539. PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR SERVICES
Evergreens, shrubs & trees; planted, trimmed, removed. Aeration; sprinkler repair; Gardens; natural rock or block walls; Sod & rock installed/removed; Fence repair. Snow Removal! Lic. & Ins. Dick, 303-783-9000.
GREENCREST LANDSCAPING Specializing in lawn removal and resodding. No job too small. Call Bill at 303-722-5923 SOUTH DENVER LAWN SERVICE
Mowing, Trimming, Edging, Aeration. Landscaping, Trees & Shrubs, Gutter Cleaning, Yard Clean-Up. Call Jasper, 720-296-1141 (cell), or email sdls1169@gmail.com.
Plumbing
VAIL Plumbing & Heating 1064 Clayton St.
40 Years of Caring for Trees in Wash Park Pruning Removal Insect Control Fertilizing Deep Root Watering
303-871-9121 rosstree.net Painting ACCENT PAINTING Trusted Name - Renowned Service Interior/Exterior - Custom Residential and Commercial. Your Neighborhood Painting Company for Over 25 Years! Pat 303-619-0657 www. DenversBestPainters.com
For
303-329-6042 Windows Double hung window RESTORATION includes replacing sash cords, removal of excess paint on wood and metal, plus lubrication. David 720550-2786.
BAUER PRO-PAINTING EST. 1996 We use only the highest quality materials from prep to paint. Drywall, plaster repair, replace damaged wood. A+ rating with BBB. Insured. 303-733-2870 or bauerpropainting@ gmail.com.
DINE LOCAL
Please Recycle this Publication when Finished
Colorado Community Media, in Englewood, CO is a full service media company looking to add to our team.
The Older Home Specialist. Service: repair & remodeling; gas logs. Hot Water Heat. Quality work. Licensed, insured, guaranteed. MC/VISA accepted.
Please Recycle this Publication when Finished
Support Neighborhood Restaurants
MULTI-MEDIA ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Colorado Community Media, publishers of 24 weekly and 3 monthly publications is currently seeking to hire an Multi-Media Advertising Account Executive. If you aren’t familiar with Local Anytim us, maybe you know one of our publications such as the Arvada For Press, GoldenNews Transcript, Westminster Window, Littleton Independent, the Parker Chronicle, the Castle of theRock DayNewsVisit Press or the Washington Park Profile. But we are a lot more than OurColoradoNews.com local newspapers. We also can help businesses through our full suite of digital marketing tools. Such as programmatic online advertising, email marketing and our own newspaper websites. If you have a desire Local Newsto help Anytime businesses succeed by being a marketing advisor with many solutions at your disposal, of the Day Visit this is your opportunity. Plus, as the local newspaper, we are trusted and well known.
OurColoradoNews.com
Candidate must be a multi-tasker, be outgoing and a fast learner. Like any sales position, candidate must like the challenge of calling on prospects as well as established customers and earning commission on every sale. Newspaper sales experience a plus but not required. Position is full time and offers a base salary plus commission and full benefits available. We offer a nice working environment. What we do as an organization matters. Sales revenues supports our newsroom. Our reporters are out there everyday holding the powerful accountable, telling good stories about good people, keeping readers informed about things to do and yes, the occasional breaking news story that is not always positive. If you are mission driven, we have a strong mission and a 150+ year history in Colorado doing what we do.
Please send resume to:
Job Type: Full-time • Pay: $40,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
COVID-19 considerations:
Come join CCM to be a part of helping local businesses be successful and our community newspapers thrive.
Sales sits in tall cubicles, properly socially distanced from others. Everyone wears a mask when not at their desks. Currently, it is rare that sales meets with anyone in person. Almost all work is being done via zoom, phone or email at this time.
Washington Park Profile 23
May 1, 2021
Art FROM PAGE 19
“I work at Access Gallery as a mentor and teaching artist and worked at Access for about 11 years,” said Lopez. Lopez said gallery managers simply wanted the pair to create something colorful. “So we came up with the ‘Sirens’ of Ninth Avenue,” Lopez said. “The Ninth Avenue Sirens, awaking from slumber, observing from afar, and emerging from oceanic morning tide. Their colorful tresses are the protectors of the everchanging West Side.” Lopez paints a mural every five years at 10th and Santa Fe in the alleyway behind Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Center for Visual Arts and another mural
under the Sixth Avenue bridge at Sixth and Lipan. His website is www.josiahleelopez.com. Farther down in the next block off Santa Fe Drive is the “Smiling Boy” in an alley between Santa Fe Drive and Inca Street. The artist goes by the street name B.L.V.D. Artist B.L.V.D painted a stunning large mural of a boy with his arms extended across the outside of the building. At East Colfax Avenue and High Street, bordering the Cheesman Park and City Park West neighborhoods, a mural of George Floyd was painted by artists Detour aka Thomas Evans and Hiero Veiga. The mural was painted after Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Evans is an artist with a focus on the innovation of art. Veiga is a graffiti artist from the South Shore of Massachusetts traveling the world creating murals.
Ireland’s Finest Painting Co.
Bringing Color to Wash Park WeAre The Clean Guys In A Dirty Industry
20% OFF labor on all interior jobs performed in
December - April 2021
25th
Anniversary
Complete Interior & Exterior Painting
(303) 512-8777 irelandsfinestinc.com
We’re Getting Busy, Call Today!
SIXTH AVENUE BEAUTY SALON
Schumacher Accounting & Tax Service
Catering to “Senior Citizens” STILL OFFERING THE SAME GREAT FULL SERVICE & STYLISTS
•Tax Preparation •Bookkeeping •Financial Statements
(Manicurists too)
Convenient Free & Handicapped Parking
1895 So. Pearl St. Denver, CO 80210 303-777-5535 FAX: 303-777-6350 www.shoetax.com
FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS
20% OFF ANY SERVICE
925 S. Niagara St., #430 303-777-5341 Call for an appointment
Seeing is believing. Get 2 security cameras installed FREE*.
2 cameras installed
FREE
ADT’s 24/7 monitoring plus top of the line security cameras help ensure your loved ones are safe – whether you’re out and about or in the next room.
$200 value
*
FREE
*
ADT Video Doorbell Camera installed free
$200 value
FREE *Requires a 36-month monitoring contract. Minimum purchase of $599 and upgrade required. Early term. and installation fees apply. For full terms and pricing see reverse.
*
ADT HD Outdoor Camera installed free
Call today to speak with a home security expert
1-877-219-6861 • Offer expires: 7/15/2021
*ADT Video Doorbell AND Outdoor Camera Professionally Installed Free: Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $56.99/mo. with QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $1,367.76), and enrollment in ADT EasyPay. Offer includes installation of one (1) video doorbell camera AND one (1) outdoor camera with minimum purchase price of $599 after promo is applied depending on geographic location. Applicable taxes extra. Upon early termination by Customer, ADT may charge 75% of the monthly service charges due for the balance of the initial contract term. Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. Service and installation charges vary depending on system configuration, equipment, and services selected. Expires 7/15/2021. Interactive Services: ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Command”) helps you manage your home environment and family lifestyle. Requires purchase of an ADT alarm system with 36-month monitoring contract ranging from $45.99-$59.99/ mo. with QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees ranging $1,103.76-$1,439.76), enrollment in ADT EasyPay, and a compatible device with Internet and email access. These interactive services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Command equipment. All ADT Command services are not available with all interactive service levels. All ADT Command services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the interactive service features you desire. General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 09079, MS 15019511. DF-CD-NP-Q221
24 Washington Park Profile
May 1, 2021
SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE WITH A FIXED RATE AS LOW AS
3.99%
APR
on a HOME EQUITY CHOICELINE advance of $10,000 or more.*
Apply online today or speak with a Bellco representative for more information about restrictions and conditions. Bellco.org/ChoiceLinePromo *LIMITED–TIME OFFER. The 3.99% APR for the Fixed Rate promotion is available to anyone who qualifies and advances at least $10,000.00 from the available line of credit at the time the Fixed Rate Subaccount is opened. Conditions and restrictions apply. This offer can end at any time. Membership eligibility required. All loans subject to approval by Bellco. Variable Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for well-qualified borrowers as of 4/15/2021 is 3.75% and is subject to change without notice. Maximum APR for variable rate advance is 21%. Variable rate may change after account opening. Property must be insured and located in Colorado.
No Clipping Required. The AARP®Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford.1 Saving is easy! With this policy, experienced drivers who switch save an average of $4492 in the first year alone — and they get all the benefits and privileges you’d expect with the AARP Auto Insurance Program from The Hartford. Your own savings could actually be greater.
■ ■ ■ ■
24/7 claims service First accident forgiveness3 Lock in your rate for a full 12 months New car replacement3
ON AVERAGE, AARP MEMBERS ENJOY
$449
2
SAVINGS
ON AUTO INSURANCE when they switch from companies like
GEICO, State Farm and Allstate Your savings could be even more!
Call The Hartford 1-855-931-4974
The only national auto insurance program endorsed by AARP.
Call The Hartford now to request a FREE money-saving quote.
1-855-931-4974 No coupon necessary.
Not an AARP member? If you’re 50 or over, request a FREE quote and more information today!
96%
of customers recommend The Hartford*
FREE duffel bag when you request your free quote!4
AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states. The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in CA by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty In surance Company; in MN, by Sentinel Insurance Company; and in MA, MI and PA, by Trumbull Insurance Company. Auto is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions. Specific features, credits and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. 1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, through Hartford Fire General Agency. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company. 2 Savings amounts based on information reported by customers who switched to The Hartford from other carriers between 1/1/19 and 12/31/19. Your savings may vary. 3First Accident Forgiveness is not available to CA policyholders. Terms and conditions apply. 4Gift is a limited time offer and not available in all states. Email address required in most states. Allow 4-7 weeks for delivery. Bottle not included. 006131 *Based on customer experience reviews shared online at www.thehartford.com/aarp as of June 2020.