InsIde ThIs IssueFebruary 2014 nexT GPhC MeeTInG

PaGe 5

PaGe 15

PaGe 16

Rep. Beth McCann: 2014 Legislature focus on jobs, education, recovery

The Governor’s School of Colorado will prepare students for life

Mr. Larry Holmes solves the case at Pauline Robinson for 20 years

Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.2823 Fairfax St., Denver

Volume 53, Issue No. 2 A Greater Park Hill Community Hill, Inc. Publication February 2014

This newspaper is made possible through the support of our advertisers and members. If you are not already a member, please consider joining the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.This newspaper is made possible through the support of our advertisers and members. If you are not already a member, please consider joining the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.

All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1961

Keeping the Message Alive, and Meaningful

City Council To Take Up Zoning Amendments

Take Winter, Add Water, Then Smooth

Cara DeGette

The 50th anniversary of Mar-tin Luther King, Jr.’s visit to Park Hill is being commemorated in several ways. Montview Bou-levard Presbyterian Church – where the civil rights leader drew a record crowd in 1964 – hosted an appearance by Vincent Hard-ing to mark the event on Jan. 19. Harding, a colleague of King’s, and a theologian, historian and activist, kicked off what church leaders hope will grow into an ongoing dialogue on how the civil rights leader’s messages of 50 years ago can resonate today.

“What could be the influence of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Park Hill in 2014, beyond nice words?” Harding asked a group of about 120 when speaking at the church. “I would like us to think about that.”

Harding recalled King’s famous speech, in which he hopes his children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

“How do you judge the content of the character of the children of Park Hill?” Harding asked. “How do you get to the content of the character? Just by saying it? I would like to encourage us to push our-

selves on this one. How do you develop a character that is worth having?”

Related coverage inside: A preview of Colorado History’s Denver Divinity Tour to coincide with Black History Month; Denver’s proclamation commemorating Martin Luther King’s 1964 visit to Park Hill; and a recap of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade. Page 10

When City Council considers a pack-age of zoning code amendments later this month, there’s likely to be controversy over open space requirements in General Devel-opment Plans (GDPs). GDP’s are required of all new developments larger than 10 acres.

Joel Noble, a regular participant in the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) Zoning and Planning Committee, termed the package a collection of ‘bug fixes’ gath-

ered over the last couple of years. “The amendments provide flexibility and adapt-ability,” he said.

The proposed text updates would make the code “more modern, clear and user-friendly,” according to Andrea Burns, public relations specialist for the city’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD).

“The Denver Zoning Code is not frozen in time,” she said. “By updating it, we’re able to address changes and trends in housing and other industries, and incorporate valu-

By Cara DeGette

The boys, reports Debbie Keenan, have been skating and playing ice hockey throughout the holidays. This is thanks to her husband Jason, who combined some ingenuity with a little patience, water and Jack Frost, to build an ice rink in their Park Hill backyard.

Keenan explains: “We live on 18th be-tween Dahlia and Elm. We are right by Park Hill School, where our first grader and kindergartner go. This is our first time building a rink. We just moved to Colorado six months ago from Georgia. We had a swimming pool in our backyard in Atlanta - it kept our boys occupied and helped to wear out some of their energy. We didn’t know how we were going to manage keeping them hap-py and outdoors during cold weather here. I guess that’s what inspired it. That and my husband’s upbringing in Canada. Skating outside is a big deal.

“My husband, Jason, built the rink in our backyard during that cold snap a little more than a month ago. He read up on the Inter-net and talked to friends for info. His dad in Canada had some ideas, as this is a family tradition. Jason grew up skating a little piece of ice just like this.

“Jason stayed up late and got up early to put a layer of water on every few hours. This went on for several days. He nearly gave up on it. It needed a layer or two of snow, and didn’t hold or smooth out right away. He piled snow up as borders, and evened it out. He de-cided to buy a huge sheet of plastic

to line it, but he found it worked better with-out it. Where the sun hit in the backyard it melted off one corner, so he cut the rink in half. Now it is more of a square, and the sun doesn’t really hit it. The Saturday after Christmas two inches of snow fell. With a light mist from the hose it smoothed out. Now it’s just a little maintenance here and there.

“Our young boys play hockey and skate in the DU Learn to Skate and Hockey Program.

One of their schoolmates has been by to play goalie. We’ve also had some of the other kids in the neighbor-hood play on the ice, but most of them don’t have their own skates.

“I’m an aerialist so we also have aerial silk fabric hanging from our back-

yard tree. It’s a regular circus/hockey ex-travaganza back here.

“My husband used to play hockey profes-sionally. Hockey is a big part of our lives ... we are a skating family. It’s taken about five or six weeks altogether to make it skate-worthy. We plan to keep it up until it melts; and apparently that could be a very long time.”

Pucks Fly Across Homemade Backyard Ice Arena

“It’s a regular circus/hockey extravaganza

back here.” Debbie Keenan

Open Space Interpretation Deemed Essential

continued on page 9

dave FelICeCITy MaTTers

“The proposed changes are significant (substantial) and

can negatively impact existing neighborhoods/neighbors.”  GPHC Co-Chair LeAnn Anderson

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 2

This Month’s Featured Listings...

Kim Tighe 720-840-9791

Nina Kuhl 303-913-5858

Roberta Locke 303-355-4492

Living With You...Working For You...

303-713-9000 5655 Yosemite St Suite #109

Greenwood Village, Co 80111 www.CCPRE.com

Ann Torgerson 303-522-5922

John Neu 303-378-4069

Jane McLaughlin 303-829-6553

Renee Burger-McMichael

303-718-4131

Steve LaPorta 303-525-0640

1641 Pontiac St SOLD in 1 day!

Park Hill East Kim Tighe 720-840-9791

4 Bed 4 bath 3000SF

Gorgeous Upgrades throughout! Ann Torgerson 303-522-5922

10853 Brooklawn Road SOLD!

Highlands Ranch Renee McMichael 303-718-4131

1624 Magnolia St SOLD!

Park Hill East Steve LaPorta 303-525-0640

2800 S University #69 SOLD!

Cherry Hills III John Neu 303-378-4069

2830 Eudora St SOLD!

Represented Buyer Nina Kuhl 303-913-5858

5121 Meade St Under Contract

$339,000 Jane McLaughlin 303-388-8392

800 Steinfelt Parkway Vacation Rental in Fairplay, CO

Call Renee McMichael for details 303-718-4131

2665 Dahlia St SOLD!

$435,000 Kim Tighe 720-840-9791

3450 S. Poplar #110 SOLD!

Represented Buyer Ann Torgerson 303-522-5922

240 Oneida St SOLD!

Mayfair Park Ranch Roberta Locke 303-355-4492

1368 Downing St #7 SOLD!

$112,500 Nina Kuhl 303-913-5858

Save the Date! 2nd Annual Park Hill Community

Wide Garage Sale Saturday, May 3, 2014

8:00 am to noon Rain or Shine

Sponsored by your local Cherry Creek Properties Realtors

Coming Soon

in Lowry!

The Greater Park Hill News is published by Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC) on the 1st of each month. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily the opinions of GPHC. GPHC does not necessarily endorse the companies, products or services advertised in The Greater Park Hill News unless specifically stated. GPHC reserves the right to run any advertisement.

Circulation is 14,000 and is distributed to homes and businesses in the Park Hill Area by neighborhood volunteers.

The deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month.

For story ideas and submissions or to comment on a story, contact Cara DeGette at editor@greaterparkhill.org.

For advertising information, contact Myra Thornton at ads@greaterparkhill.org or 720-515-1579.

Cara DeGetteEditor

Bernadette KellyManager

Myra ThorntonAdvertising Sales

Tommy KubitskyGraphic Design

2823 Fairfax St. | Denver, CO 80207 | Voicemail: 720-287-0442newspaper@greaterparkhill.org | Fax: 303-388-0910

greaterparkhill.org | facebook.com/greaterparkhillnews | @parkhillnews

The Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organi-zation that: promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill; provides resources, information and advocacy; and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation.

Mystery SolvedBy Cara DeGette

Last month marked a pretty cool anniver-sary for Park Hill. It was 50 years ago that Martin Luther King, Jr. spent three days in Denver, much of it in Park Hill, a neigh-borhood with a national reputation for its purposeful efforts to integrate. When he arrived in 1964, King had just turned 35, yet he had already established himself as a determined, eloquent force for civil rights. His travels to Denver came just months af-ter the remarkable Aug. 28, 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom, during which he delivered his now famous “I have a Dream” speech.

When King came to town, he was pav-ing the road for the national Civil Rights Act, which was signed into law on July 2 that year. The landmark legislation out-lawed discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity and gender. Later in 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Four years after his visit to Denver, King was struck down by an assassin’s bullet. He was only 39 years old. In retrospect, the civil rights leader didn’t really get a chance to visit many places – making his visit here that much more poignant.

We were able to reconstruct the high-lights of his visit, and the powerful messages he conveyed, by going back to newspaper accounts from 50 years ago. Thanks to the Denver Public Library and with help from its Western History and Genealogy depart-ment, we located multiple photographs from that time to reproduce in the news-paper. In many of the photos, like the one above, King was standing with or seated next to people whose identities were simply marked “unknown” in the archives.

One savvy GPHN reader, of course, rec-ognized the man in the photo with King as the Rev. M.C. Williams of New Hope Baptist

Church. We are delighted to properly iden-tify Williams here.

This month marks my second as your newspaper editor. Some of you know me as a longtime Colorado-based newshound with a passion for justice, and for good sto-rytelling. At the helm of the Greater Park Hill News, I look forward to building on a legacy of excellence established by my most excellent predecessor, Erin Vanderberg.

Like Erin, I welcome your suggestions, submissions and contributions. Feel free to send news and story tips, tidbits, listings and announcements my way, at editor@greater-

parkhill.org. Write letters to the editor if you are inspired. And yes, if you see something that requires a correction or clarification – or identification – let me know.

And, thanks for letting me be your editor.Finally, I have an important request to

convey from our neighbor, Coco Hudson. Last month Coco sent the following note, short and to the point:

“Would you be so kind as to remind residents, in the next issue of the paper, to shovel their sidewalks? It is unbelievable to me how many people haven’t done so and now the sidewalks are slick.” 

Consider it done, Coco.

Cara DeGette is the editor of the Greater Park Hill News. 

Correction: The GPHC food pantry wel-comes and accepts all donations, includ-ing fresh vegetables. An article in last month’s newspaper suggested otherwise, and we regret the error.

Mystery solved: Last months “unidentified” pastor in this photo with Martin Luther King, Jr. was identified by a reader as Rev. M.C. Williams of New Hope Baptist Church on 23rd and Ogden streets. Credit: Burnis McCloud collection/Denver Public Library

Cara deGeTTeedITor’s noTe

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 3

Beautiful storybook red brick Tudor. Original character includes a barrel ceiling in the living room, tiled wood burning fireplace, period light fixtures and dark stained wood floors. 4 beds, 2 baths, 2 car garage, 2336 finished sq ft, $425,000

Thinking about selling? Call me!

Anastasia Williamson lives and works in Park Hill. She loves this neighborhood for its architectural and cultural diversity. That kind of expertise qualifies her as a true Park Hill resident expert. It’s why Anastasia ranks as one of Park Hill’s most successful Realtors. Clients know her expertise translates into top dollar for their properties.

Attention Potential Home Sellers — Inventory is Lower than it’s Been in Years. Thinking of Selling? Now is the Time!

SOLD!

Under

Contract

in 5 Days

Pristine English Tudor cottage on a beautiful block in South Park Hill. Meticulously maintained with priceless character! Private back yard, new roof and furnace. 3 beds, 2 baths, 2,058 fin sq ft. 1-car detached garage. $399,900

1649 Bellaire St. 4114 E. 19th Ave. 1612 Bellaire St. 1607 Bellaire St. 2595 Fairfax St. 1558 Clermont St. 1647 Clermont St. 2816 Dahlia St. 2383 Hudson St. 2821 Dahlia St. 2686 Dexter St. 2248 Holly St. 1901 Cherry St. 2556 Elm St. 2615 Elm St. 2611 Birch St. 2052 Krameria St. 2630 Glencoe St 2877 Cherry St

2646 Birch St. 2679 Albion St. 1638 Clermont St. 2810 Bellaire St. 2605 Fairfax St. 2677 Ash St. 2560 Birch St. 2681 Cherry St. 2809 Birch St. 2514 Glencoe St. 2652 Fairfax St. 1688 Newport St. 2609 Eudora St. 2800 Birch St. 3060 Ash St. 2810 Olive St 1623 Bellaire St 2037 Krameria

2345 Clermont St. 2070 Birch St. 2229 Birch St. 1775 Monaco Pkwy. 4345 E. 16th Ave. 2680 Ash St. 2861 Birch St. 2854 Cherry St. 2091 Hudson St. 2645 Ash St. 2570 Bellaire St. 2616 Fairfax St. 4326 Batavia Place 2845 Cherry St 2947 Clermont St 3035 Bellaire 2670 Grape 2655 Elm St

2817 Albion St. 2684 Fairfax St. 2894 Dexter St. 2855 Ash St. 2665 Forest St. 2530 Bellaire St. 2820 Birch St. 2614 Glencoe St. 2840 Clermont St. 1929 Bellaire St. 1915 Monaco Pkwy. 1544 Leyden St. 2920 Cherry St. 2621 Grape St 2576 Fairfax St 2581 Dahlia 2389 Cherry 2829 Clermon 2877 Cherry

4545 E. 29th Ave. 2530 Glencoe St. 2895 Birch St. 2955 Ivy St. 1610 Locust St. 2295 Eudora 3025 Albion 2668 Elm 2936 Albion 2389 Cherry 2654 Elm 2514 Glencoe St. 2065 Hudson St. 2845 Cherry St 1623 Bellaire St 2855 Dahlia 2825 Bellaire 2900 Ash 2894 Birch

Hip red brick story and a half bungalow. Open floorplan with formal living spaces, updated kitchen, full open basement. New roof, sewer line and carpet. 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 car garage, 1300 finished sq ft,. $374,900

Park Hill Album

Anastasia’s Park Hill SOLDS Speak for Themselves!

Picture perfect red brick Tudor filled with character! Gorgeous period detailing with sunken living room, cove ceilings, wood floors and arched doorways. 3 beds, 2 baths, 1 car garage. 1.900 finished sq ft. $369,000

Elegant David Weekley new build. This sunny 2-story home offers a gorgeous granite kitchen, and a professionally finished base-ment. 4 beds, 5 baths, two car attached garage, 3,800 finished sq ft. $888,000

SOLD

In 3 days Under

Contract

in 4 Days SOLD

SOLD

Have you ever thought of showing your garden in the Park Hill Garden Walk?

The committee is now making the selections for the 2014 Park Hill Garden Walk and would like to talk with you.

Comments from former PHGW participants:It was a great incentive to get my garden into beautiful shape.

It was a real honor to have so many people walking through and enjoying my garden.The visitors were very respectful and didn’t cause any harm to my garden.

It was really fun to show off all the work I had put into my yard.The visitors were very appreciative and brought great community energy.

I enjoyed meeting all the other gardeners and sharing ideas.

Please contact Dania Pettus at dspettus@comcast.net or 303-579-2066 and visit our blog http://parkhillgardenwalk.blogspot.com/ to see photos from prior years.

The American Kestrel is about 10 ½” long and has a wingspan of about 23”, making it the smallest falcon. Sometimes called a Sparrow Hawk, it is the only Kestrel found in the Americas. As noted in National Geographic’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America, they feed on insects, reptiles and small mammals, and, in the winter, sometimes eat small birds. Their distinctive call is a shrill, killy, killy, killy. This American Kestrel was photographed in January along the South Platte bike trail. Photo by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein

Porsche • Vokswagen • Audi • BMW • Mini

4801 Monaco St.,Denver CO 80022303-296-1188www.dartauto.com

B I r d l a n d

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 4

SAVE THE DATE: 2nd Annual Park Hill Community Garage SaleA community-wide garage sale will be held in the Park Hill neighborhood on Saturday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to noon. This event is sponsored by the Greater Park Hill Com-munity and by Cherry Creek Properties. This will be a great way for homeowners to go green by selling household items, clothing, records, furniture, artwork, etc. Don’t have anything to sell? Then enjoy a Saturday morning exploring Park Hill while shopping for some great deals. Last year more than 95 households and busi-ness participated. Call 303-913-5858 with any questions. Details on how to sign-up will be in future issues of the newspaper.

2040 ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SUMMITJoin 2040’s Fifth Annual Community Health Summit on Saturday, Feb. 22. Each year, 2040 Partners for Health gathers community members, healthcare professionals, research-ers, teachers, and community organizations to discuss health issues and ways to improve health in neighborhoods across Denver. Meet

and network with other community leaders. The Summit is Saturday, Feb. 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Denver School of the Arts, 7111 Montview Blvd. Space is limited so register to-day at www.2040partnersforhealth.org/

LOW-COST TREES FROM DENVER DIGSThe Park People’s Denver Digs Trees annual tree distribution and sale is just around the cor-ner. During the past 25 years more than 46,000 trees have been planted in our City. With the recent discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in Boul-der, protecting and enhancing Denver’s urban forest is more important now than ever. Help Improve Air/Water Quality and Property Val-ues. Applications are available now for free and reduced cost trees ($10-$35). The deadline to apply is Feb. 15. For application information or to see a list of the target neighborhoods that face particularly low canopy cover, visit www.TheParkPeople.org, or call 303-722-6262.

DENVER SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WORKSHOPSThe Denver Scholarship Foundation is host-ing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops throughout Denver. The workshops provide Denver Public Schools students and their parents an opportunity for one-on-one assistance completing the FAFSA application, which is due April 1. DPS seniors are encouraged to attend the workshops as many scholarships, including the DSF scholar-ship, require students to be eligible for federal financial aid. For more information, go to den-verscholarship.org/events. Upcoming work-shops in Park Hill area include the following:East High School: Thursday, Feb. 20, 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College: Thurs-day, February 6, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. and Thurs-

day, Feb. 20, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.Manual High School: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

HELP WITH CHORES FOR SENIORSThe Senior Resource Center has a new “Free of Charge” Chore Service Program available to residents 60 years of age and older. There are no testing or income requirements for this free service. Assistance is for a variety of chores in any home or apartment - up to three (3) times a year. Services include: organization and clean-out of house or apartment, packing and unpacking items for moving, deep clean-ing of bathrooms, kitchens, etc., first floor win-dow washing inside and out, cleaning closets, seasonal yard clean up, and more. For more information or to schedule an appointment call Loretta Trujillo at 303-235-6952 or email ltru-jillo@SRCAging.org

BE A SNOW BUDDYThe Snow Buddy Program connects seniors with volunteers. If you are interested in assist-ing seniors who are unable to complete the difficult task of snow removal consider becom-ing a Snow Buddy. Volunteers and seniors in-terested in snow removal assistance can get more information at Volunteers of America, by calling 720-264-3379, or sending an email to snowbuddies@voacolorado.org.

COLORFUL PROGRAMS AT HISTORY COLORADOThe programs are held at History Colorado, 1200 Broadway. To register call 303-866-2394 and mention Active Minds to get member pricing for programs (museum admission not included).Turbulence Before Takeoff: The Life and Times of Aviation Pioneer Marlon DeWitt Green, Fri-day, Feb. 7, 1 to 2 p.m. Unbelievable as it seems today, prior to the mid-1960s no African American pilots flew for major U.S. airlines. It took the indomitable will of Air Force pilot Mar-lon Green, sacrifice from his family, the efforts of a tireless attorney, and a Supreme Court decision to end segregation in the nation’s cockpits. Historian and author Flint Whitlock explores this compelling figure in modern avia-tion and civil rights history.Love for the Ages: An Object Adventure, Tues-day, Feb. 11, 1 to 2. p.m. Love is in the air! His-tory Colorado’s collections embrace dozens of love stories from Coloradans throughout time. Join our library staff for a hands-on look at ro-mantic items from our archives and artifacts, including love letters to Baby Doe Tabor, hand-made Valentines, marriage proposals, and war letters home. (RSVP required.)

POLAR PLUNGE SPLASH AND DASH AT CITY PARKOn Feb. 22, the Polar Plunge Splash & Dash will celebrate winter, attracting runners, beer enthusiasts, music lovers and Polar Plung-ers. The 5K run/walk around City Park kicks off the event, followed by a Polar Plunge into an icy pool of water. Stick around after for a free beer from one of Denver’s craft brewer-

ies. There will also be a free chili tasting and cook-off. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Colorado and its Project UNIFY program. The 5K run requires a $35 registration fee ($40 day-of registration) and participants will receive a beanie. For more information and to register, visit SpecialOlympicsCO.org.

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE PRAIRIE DOGS?Bluff Lake Nature Center is home to approxi-mately 100 prairie dogs. They are loved by many and provide an important link in our food chain. However, in growing numbers, they threaten to negatively impact much of what makes BLNC special for other wildlife - and our human visitors - by eating high value prairie plants and leaving behind only weeds. We want to find the right balance between our prairie dogs and all of our other wildlife. To do that, we need to initiate some management techniques that will encourage prairie dogs to stay in areas that are good for the overall health of BLNC. This will require some help from volunteers. Training instruction and op-erating procedures will be provided, and you won’t need to trap or handle prairie dogs. If you can commit to helping for 60-90 minutes one day a week, please contact Jeff Lamontagne at jlamontagne@blufflake.org or 303-517-6368.

CALLING ALL WRITERS: GET FAMOUS, WIN CASHThe Unknown Writers’ Contest of 2014, spon-sored by the Denver Woman’s Press Club, of-fers cash and comments to writers who have never before been published. Welcoming entries in three categories, nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, the contest is open to men and women who are Colorado residents, age 18 and over, whose writing has never appeared with a paid byline. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 17. Entrants may submit one entry in each category with a 2,000-word limit for fiction and nonfiction and a 40-line limit for poetry. A fee of $25 is required for fiction and nonfic-tion, $15 for poetry. For complete rules and to enter online, visit the club’s web site at www.dwpconline.org/writing-contests.

SPECIAL ART SALE AT THRIFT MARTFeb. 8 through Feb. 22, Thrift Mart will be of-fering for sale a large collection of art work donated from members and supporters of the Assistance League of Denver. Included are original oils, pastels, and signed prints, as well as many decorator pieces. This selection has something for the discerning collector and those just looking to spruce up their new digs. Thrift Mart is a major source of funding for the philanthropic programs of Assistance League of Denver. Last year the organization returned more than $425,000 in direct goods and ser-vices to people in the metropolitan area. The Art Sale runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 1331 E. Colfax Ave.

GET HELP SIGNING UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCEIn-person help is available at no cost to get signed up for health insurance through Con-nect for Health Colorado. Central Presbyte-rian Church at 1660 Sherman St. is an offi-

CoMMunITy announCeMenTs

continued on page 13

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 5

SOLD

Wolfe & EppersonNew Homes for the New Year

Judy Wolfe & Jay Epperson 303.331.4524 I 303-331-4586www.parkhillhomes.net

Sold signs follow wherever we go!

Thank you for your Business & Referrals in 2013. Contact us today if you need assistance Buying or Selling in 2014!

2600 Curtis St - Curtis Park$199,950 - New Price1/2 Duplex condo just steps from heart of downtown. 1 Bed & 4 piece bath. Features exposed brick walls, fireplace, wood floors, outside deck & in-unit laundry. Great location w/ Walk Score of 83 Bike Score of 98.

2528 Birch St - Park Hill $417,950 - New PriceBungalow w/ open & bright floor plan on beautiful block. 2 +1 Beds plus Study & 1.5 baths. Features new bamboo floors, stained glass & heated sunroom. Great yard & deck w/ hot tub. Easy walk to 23rd Ave Shops.

633 Albion St - Hilltop$529,950 - New PriceCharming Tudor w/ great architectural details. 3+1 beds, 2.5 baths & 2,795 tot fin sq ft. Features fireplace w/ mantel & built-ins, eat-in kitchen, refinished inlaid wood floors & full, fin bsmt. Close to everything

2600 Monaco Pkwy - Park Hill$595,000 - NEWExquisite, Custom Ranch w/ 4 Main Floor Bedrooms & 3 Main Floor Baths Plus A Part Fin. Bsmt. w/ Family Room And Bdrm*Huge Rooms*Beautiful Woodwork*14,100 Sq. Ft. Lot. 3088 Sq. Ft. Finished.

8896 E 35th Ave - StapletonSOLD

Results matter, call us to help you sell your

home!

The Legislature Is In Session By Rep. Beth McCann

 The 2014 legislative session began on Jan.

8. Democrats are focusing on the economy, education, and recovery from last year’s massive floods and wildfires. We are com-mitted to continue creating more jobs for Colorado residents. In light of the defeat of Amendment 66, we are examining other ways to improve our  education  system. We are fortunate that Colorado’s revenue situation continues to improve, which will allow us to begin to reverse some of the ex-tensive education cuts over the last several years. In addition, a bipartisan task force has been examining the issues surround-ing the devastating floods last fall, and the members of that committee have proposed several bills that will bring some relief to those who suffered such catastrophic losses.

I expect that there will be efforts to repeal some or all of the gun safety laws passed last year as well as the bill requiring more use of renewable energy by rural electric co-ops. I will resist these efforts.

My legislationI am working on several bills for this up-

coming session. Here is a brief outline:The first is an important bill concern-

ing the processes surrounding involuntary mental health commitments. I sponsored a bill last year setting up a task force to look at these issues. The resulting proposed bill will help to make the involuntary commitment process more understandable and will, for the first time, provide a definition of “dan-ger to self or others.” We have a broad stake-holder group that has been working on this bill so I believe we have good agreement on the issues. Another possible related bill requires that when law enforcement offi-cers take someone in for a 72-hour mental health evaluation, they be notified when the person is released if the person has com-mitted a crime. 

Another bill I am sponsoring will bring our human trafficking  laws in line with recommendations by the Uniform Com-mission on State Laws, a national advisory group. I am working with the district at-torney’s and other interested groups to draft this legislation. Human Trafficking Aware-ness Day is Feb. 20 at the Capitol. It will be an opportunity for us to educate legislators about this human tragedy.

Prescription drug overdose is a big prob-lem in Colorado. We are second in the na-tion in prescription drug misuse. More peo-ple die nationwide from this problem than

from traffic accidents!  There has been a large group convened by the governor’s of-fice working on many aspects of this issue. I am carrying a bill to strengthen our Pre-scription Drug Monitoring Program, which allows physicians and pharmacists to access and monitor the prescription drug usage of their clients. Another bill will reauthorize the Department of Human Services to over-see drug abuse programs that treat patients with prescription drugs and expand abuse program access. 

I will be bringing two foreclosure bills this session: One requires that compa-nies provide a single point of contact for a borrower who is trying to modify a loan. It would also prohibit the practice of dual tracking,  which occurs when a borrower believes that a loan has been modified and he/she is complying with the terms, but a lender forecloses at the same time. The other bill concerns when a public trustee must return funds to a borrower. 

Another bill would make it easier for the renewable energy industry to access tax credits and reinvest tax savings in Colorado. 

My bill requiring health insurance com-panies to provide similar coverage for pe-diatric dentistry both inside and outside of our health benefit exchange has already passed out of committee and will soon pass on the House floor.

Finally, I am sponsoring a bill to raise the tobacco smoking age from 18 to 21. 

  I will be the House sponsor for some bills that are starting in the Senate includ-ing one to allow firefighters to administer basic care to an animal in an emergency, and a bill to allow hospital compounding of drugs to address drug shortages. Another bill will allow birth parents access to adop-tion documents. 

I will continue as Majority Whip, the Chair of the House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee, and  will serve this year as the chair of the oversight com-mittee for the Colorado Health Insurance Exchange, which is now running fairly smoothly. More than 50,000 Coloradans have signed up for private heath insurance through the exchange and another 80,000 or so have signed up for Medicaid, and reg-istrations continue. Having more people in-sured will increase access to preventive and quality health care for many more Colorado residents.

As always, please contact me with any thoughts or suggestions about state mat-ters. My door is always open at the Capitol, Room 317. Hope to see you soon!

Focus On Jobs, Education, Recovery

District 8 Rep. Beth McCann can be reached at beth@bethmccann.org, and at 303-866-2959.

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 6

Greater Park Hill Community would like to thank the following people and groups for recent donations of food, in-kind gifts, and volunteer time, to benefit GPHC:

GenerosITy aT GPhC• AARP #995, Queen City

Chapter• Cassie Ambutter• Erin Bawa• Blessed Sacrament Catholic

Church• Keith Brown• Cake Crumbs & their patrons• Marcelle Caturia & Seshu

Vaddey• Dennis & Margaret

Chambers• Jan Connell• Aimee Corrigan• Pam & Alan Greenberg• Blair Hardy• K. Harhai• Alison Karas• Birgit Kieft• T. Kissler• King Soopers, Stapleton• Knights of Peter Claver,

Ladies of Grace #42• Messiah Community Church,

Sandy Fischbach• Leslie & Tyler Miller & Family• Becky Nemec• Brad Parks Family• Park Hill’s Biggest Loser

Group• Park Hill Branch Librarians &

Patrons• Park Hill United Methodist

Church• Becky Richardson

• Duncan & Susie Seawell• Ben Seymour• Peggy Streit• Heidi Van Sickle• Steve & Erica Van Sky• Hannah Ulbrich• Pamela Washington• Laura Wegscheid• Reed Wolff• David Woodlee...and the many generous food and gift donors who wished to remain anonymous. Thank you!

THANK YOU to our new & renewing GPHC Members and Donors for their recent contributions:

Individual/Family Members (up to $49):• Melinda Anderson• Anonymous • William & Cindy Braden • Matthew & Sonya Bury • Patrick Caldwell & Mary Kay

Myers• Russ & Heather Chilcoat • Diane & Wayne DuBois • Harold & Claudia Fields • Isabel Johnson • Johnny & Sally Johnson • Jim & Su Mooney • Brenda Morrison & Brian

Shaw• Stu & Shelly Scales • Viola Sirovatka • Lynn Smith • John G. & Debra Taylor • Pam & Chris Wineman

Business or Sustaining Members ($50-$99): • Advanced Pediatrics- Elaine

Hehemann • Thomas P. & Lucy W.

Creighton • Carol Haller • Jane & John Klever • Laurie Loughhead • David K. Manchester &

Catherine Manchester, M.D.• Eileen McCarron • John & Manuelita Mullins • Ginny Swenson • James & Cindy Tanner • Walk2Connect - Jonathon

Stalls • Sue Weinstein &

Marekah Stewart

Sponsoring Members/ Donors ($100-$249):• Wes & Linda Brown • Nancy Connick & David

Jankowski • The Garden- Aleece Raw • James & Mary Groves • Lee & Barry Rosenberg

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Blessed Sacrament Community Completes Major Gym Upgrade

By Tina Ries

Parishioners and parents, assisted by an aspiring Eagle Scout and school alumni, has made a difference to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

It all began last spring, with parents and parishioners who donated to Blessed Sac-rament Catholic School’s annual Big Event Auction. In all, $33,000 was raised in a spe-cial appeal for upgrades to the gymnasium at the school, at Montview Boulevard and Elm Street. Father Chris Hellstrom, the church pastor, says improvements were needed in order to re-engage the gym’s original pur-pose when the school opened in 1951, “to be fully-functioning for the development of sports and fine arts.”

Hellstrom began by purchasing and in-stalling panels for noise reduction, a new sound system and new curtains for the stage. Bids were also obtained for necessary roof repair.

Then, project coordinator and school parent, Alisa Martin, who has a finance background, decided to get involved. She organized a committee of parents to help with the project. She says she saw it as a morale-building opportunity. She believed, by working on this project, she could, “help show that a financially-strapped organiza-tion could still get things done as a com-munity, if you pull together.”

Even with the funds raised, the budget was small compared to all the work that needed to be done. The timing was perfect. Class of 2013 Blessed Sacrament Catholic School graduate, Jeremy Mays, 15, was looking to do an Eagle Scout service project and heard about the improvements to the gym.

Mays approached Martin and school principal Greg Kruthaupt with an offer to help. They told him they needed help with the painting. This also would involve sand-ing and spot priming. About Mays, Martin

said, “God sent him to us. [The troop] did so much for us!”

In order to fulfill his Eagle Scout project requirements, Mays says he had to plan something that left a permanent result. That included leading the project, and enlisting the help of others, to whom he would del-egate tasks delegation skills. “It could not be like a chore,” he said.

Mays organized eight adults and 13 scouts in Explorer Troop #376, including the troop’s Eagle advisor to help the effort. Mays had do all the sign-up sheets and follow-up in ensure the members would be there when the day came to do the project. He also en-listed the help of former Blessed Sacrament and recent East High School graduate and Eagle Scout Nico Gallegos.

The group spent two days painting the baseboards of the gym, the ceiling of the stage, bathroom doors, and the storage shed in the gym. “I’ll never take very tall and painted areas for granted again,” said Mays. “It was very difficult.”

Many parents and parish members also stepped up. In November, about 20 parents spent a day scrubbing walls and bleachers, cleaning and sweeping floors and cleaning the stage, preparing it to be used for school performances and ceremonies. In addition, the window fans have been cleaned and framed, the stage and gym lights have been fixed or replaced, doors have been repaired, and a new water fountain has been installed.

“We are overcome with gratitude for all that the community has done for our chil-dren,” Kruthaupt said.

Future plans for improvement to the fa-cility include adding a climbing wall, add-ing more sports banners, and repairing the bleachers. A gym dedication ceremony is planned this spring for parent volunteer Jim Harvey, who passed away last fall. Harvey served as the school’s athletic director for many years.

Class of 2013 Blessed Sacrament Catholic School graduate Jeremy Mays heard about the gym project when he was looking for an Eagle Scout service project.

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 7

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Editor’s Note: The following is a synopsis of what was discussed during the January Great-er Park Hill Community monthly meeting. The next meeting, which is open to the public, is Thursday, Feb. 6 beginning at 6:30 p.m., 2823 Fairfax St.

District 2 Police UpdateThere was no update this month on specific

incidences in Park Hill. However, neighbors are reminded that they should contact District 2 to report non-emergencies at 720-913-2000. The 9-1-1 emergency number should be used to report only crimes in progress.

Park Hill Traffic ConcernsPark Hill residents Brian Rodeno and Bar-

bara Redmond presented a report on a dra-matic spike in traffic in Park Hill since 2010. While the population of the neighborhood has remained static, the growth of Stapleton and Lowry has resulted in increased traffic through-out Park Hill. Rodeno and Redmond noted the increased traffic negatively impacts quality of life and creates safety problems, particularly for families with young children. With contin-ued growth in Stapleton and Lowry to the east, as well as the Fitzsimmons Campus, and the opening of Trader Joe’s and the redevelop-ment of the Hospital District to the south, traffic is likely to continue to increase in Park Hill. Fol-lowing the presentation, the board agreed to write a letter to Denver Public Works asking the city to conduct a comprehensive traffic study of Park Hill, as well as support traffic calming measures for neighborhood streets that have witnessed an increase in traffic.

City Loop UpdateHank Bootz, a representative of the organi-

zation Stop City Loop, provided an update on Denver’s plan to build a $5 million regional ac-tivity and play area to replace the Dustin Redd playground in City Park. The proposal was temporarily put on hold following the protests

of many living in surrounding neighborhoods, including Park Hill. Following the presentation and discussion, the board adopted a resolu-tion asking the City Parks and Recreation Department to conduct an open process to evaluate the project, including parking, traffic and maintenance studies, and seek additional community input before proceeding further. The board also voted to appoint representa-tives from GPHC to help evaluate the project.

Committee Chair and Community Updates

Home Tour Committee Chair Nina Kuhl noted the date of the Home Tour will not be finalized until the Broncos’ schedule is pub-lished in April, to avoid conflicting dates with home games. Kuhl also reported that Park Hill will once again have a coordinated Community Garage Sale this year, likely scheduled to oc-cur the first weekend in May.

Building Committee Chair Louis Plachowski noted plans to inspect the roof at GPHC to de-termine whether there are any repairs needed.

Zoning/Property Use Committee Chair Ber-nadette Kelly said there has been some in-terest in a GPHC construction committee to review scrape/build-out/remodel projects in the neighborhood. She noted that GPHC, as well as the City, cannot dictate “taste”; it can only enforce zoning and building codes and any requirements of designated Historic Districts.

Executive Director ReportExecutive Director Robyn Fishman reported

that Denver Urban Gardens will distribute free seeds and seedlings ready for transplant this year to residents who want to plant gardens. Application forms are available at GPHC. Also, Denver Digs will be giving away free trees. Deadline for applications is Feb. 15; contact Robyn at director@greaterparkhill.org for more info.

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The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 8

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Denver Divinity Tour To Relive History

Cara DeGette

During Black History Month, History Colorado is sponsoring a bus tour high-lighting Denver’s rich cultural tapestry at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, the modern Shorter AME Church and Zion Baptist Church in Five Points.

The bus tour is Thursday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fifty years ago during a three-day visit to Denver and Littleton, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at Montview Presbyterian in Park Hill, on the issues of the 1960s (for full coverage see the January, 2014 issue of GPHN). 

Kevin Pharris, a consultant with His-tory Colorado, said the museum timed the Denver Divinity Tour this year to highlight King’s 1964 visit, and to coincide with Feb-ruary Black History Month.

“We go and explore houses of worship for historical and architectural content,” Phar-ris said. “History Colorado does this tour every few years, and this year’s theme was easy because of anniversary.”

Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church was an obvious choice on the bus tour, as it was the site of the largest congre-gation to gather during King’s visit. Also, Pharris noted, the church is in Park Hill, the first neighborhood in Denver to resist segregation.

The two other churches on the tour in-clude Shorter AME, at the southern end of the Five Points neighborhood at 20th Avenue and Washington Street, and Zion Baptist.

Zion Baptist, at 24th Avenue and Ogden Street, has been the house of worship for many famous black Coloradans. They in-clude, Rufus Felton, the first black teacher in Denver, and Thomas Riley, Colorado’s first black citizen.

Dr. Justina Ford – a black woman doctor who was only allowed to treat other blacks when she moved to Colorado in 1902 – was also a member of the congregation at Zion Baptist, as were former Denver Mayor Wel-lington Webb and his wife Wilma, a former legislator.

Cost is $36 for History Colorado members $46 non-members. Reservations are re-quired, so to hold a spot, call 303-866-2394.

Credit: U.S. National Library of Medicine

Dr. Justina Ford was the first African American woman licensed as a physician in Colorado. When she applied for her license to practice medicine in 1902, she was reportedly told by the clerk, “I feel dishonest taking a fee from you. You’ve got two strikes against you to begin with. First of all, you’re a lady, and second, you’re colored.” Dr. Ford went on to practice for 50 years, birthing thousands of Colorado babies.Credit: Black American West Museum & Heritage Center

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 9

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able feedback from those who use it regu-larly. In fact, many of the updates come in direct response to feedback from Denver residents and permit customers.”

Open space requirement questioned

One contentious section involves clari-fication that large-scale General Develop-ment Plans (GDPs) must devote at least 10 percent of net area to public open space, in-stead of 10 percent of gross area. This allows developers to deduct streets and right-of-ways from the gross area before the calcu-lation and leads to an inverse relationship: The more streets, the less open space. For example, in the St. Anthony’s (Sloan’s Lake Town Center) GDP just approved, 44 per-cent of the project is streets and right-of-ways and 5.6 percent is open space.

Although INC has adopted a resolution favoring the gross area requirement, Noble acknowledges there is good reason to have more discussion on the proposal.

Burns, of planning and development, said: “The [General Development Plan] open space update does not represent a change in the city’s approach. It codifies the requirement that at least 10 percent of the developable land within a GDP be open space. In the past, a mixed-use lot had to include at least 10 percent open space when being redeveloped. Today, when assembling multiple lots for a GDP, the same open space requirement applies. Moreover, because this is a minimum requirement, there is always

the option of open space amounting to more than 10 percent.”

Historical perspective differentINC President Larry Ambrose testified

before the Denver Planning Board that under the old zoning code, lots zoned for high-rise and density required 20 percent open space.

“When developers assembled more than one lot, there would be streets and right-of-ways around and between the zone lots,” Ambrose said. “In this situation the code allowed the developer to reduce the open space to 10 percent of the gross area because the right-of-ways were already included.

“What happened here is a staff person in CDP began allowing some developers to get away with using 10 percent of net area, deducting the right-of-ways again that had, in effect, already been taken out of the cal-culation. Out-of-town planners, reading the code, clearly interpreted the code to require 10 percent of gross area as open space and were pleased to provide it knowing that

open space makes developments more liv-able and marketable.”

Complex collateral impact“I know there is discussion about the open

space requirement based on net versus gross area,” said Councilwoman-at-Large Debbie Ortega. “I have not made a decision but am listening to the many views on this issue.”

There is also concern that less open space in high density developments would put ad-ditional pressure on parks in the city at the same time park use is increasing and there is demand for more park space. Some parks remain unprotected by ordinance designa-tion, and the city is taking away some park-land.

“We all value open space, but that doesn’t necessarily mean parks,” Noble said. “Den-ver has a real need for more park space as the city gets denser and our per-capita park area falls. That’s the broader discussion that we need to be having.”

Said Burns: “In the context of General Development Plans, the term ‘open space’ applies to several types of publicly accessible space, from parks to plazas to improved pe-destrian zones.”

Ambrose agreed: “Clearly people who live in these large, densely populated devel-opments need and deserve adequate open spaces. For these folks and visitors, parks and open space serve a similar function. They are not like apples and oranges. They are more like oranges and tangerines.”

Opportunity for involvement The ordinance process involves at least

two public hearings. The first is at the Feb.

5 Planning Board meeting at 3 p.m., at 201 West Colfax Avenue (the Webb Building).

Councilwoman Ortega said the Land Use, Transportation, and Infrastructure Com-mittee (LUTI) is scheduled to review the amendments on Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. on the 3rd Floor of the City and County Building downtown, across the street from the Webb building. She expects a public hearing and Council action in April.

Visit www.DenverGov.org/CPD and navigate to “Text Amendments” under the zoning menu to stay informed about the or-dinance as it progresses.

City Matters, continued from page 1

Statement from GPHC Co-Chair LeAnn Anderson

Greater Park Hill has been notified of proposed new changes to the approved Zoning code. For GPHC and other Reg-istered Neighborhood Organizations, whose volunteers who spent count-less hours reviewing the new zoning code and who worked closely with the City to ensure the new code protected such things as open space and existing neighbors rights, the proposed changes are very concerning. We were advised by the City that when the new zoning code passed, the City would only move forward non-substantial changes. The proposed changes are significant (substantial)  and can negatively im-pact existing neighborhoods/neigh-bors.  GPHC  encourages  everyone to share their views and make their voices heard. We encourage the City to listen and honor the commitment it made to the RNO’s, who partnered with the City on the new zoning code.

The proposed zoning code amendments cover general design standards, measure-ments and definitions, land uses, parking requirements, and zoning procedures.

The amendments also intend to be con-sistent with the city charter by sending zoning appeals of decisions made by the Community Planning and Development Department to the city’s Board of Adjust-ments (BOA).

“Once the BOA acts, an appeal of the [board’s] final decision goes to District Court,” said Andrea Burns, public rela-tions specialist for the city’s Community Planning and Development Department.

The appeal process and park zoning may get additional attention as the process goes forward.

“In 2010, the City Council determined that appropriate land uses and development are inside Denver’s public parks was best left to the manager of Parks and Recreation.

Those decisions are still subject to consider-able public scrutiny and input,” Burns said.

Other amendments allow projecting signs in all mixed-use districts, designating an “arts, recreation and entertainment ser-vices” use in the Civic Center district, and permitting small-scale breweries, wineries and distilleries in neighborhood mixed-use districts, with several limitations.

Describing himself as a neighborhood activist and an “optimist,” Joel Noble says people need to understand the power in neighborhood or “small area” plans. GDPs must be consistent with adopted area plans, so “the more neighborhoods have current plans in which the community vision is specific, the less controversy there will be with GDPs, rezonings, and development.”

As an outside observer of the St. An-thony’s GDP process, Noble said he thinks there was a “missed opportunity” in the West Colfax plan to talk about the commu-

nity vision for acceptable building heights in the “town center” areas.

“The take-away for all neighborhoods is to participate in area plans, and capture your community vision as specifically as possible,” he said.

Noble said amendments will add flex-ibility in his home neighborhood of Curtis Park. For example, in Urban zoned neigh-borhoods, row house entrances could face a “street” rather than only a “primary street.” Until now, this requirement has uninten-tionally limited the ability to build row houses on some corner lots.

Another change allows more flexibility in constructing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Without the amendments, Noble said, trying to build an ADU on Curtis Park’s narrow lots has been limited to “a garage with a hallway on top” and no liv-able space.

-- Dave Felice

More in the Omnibus Text AmendmentEarly Neighborhood Participation Essential

“I know there is discussion about the open space

requirement based on net versus gross area. I have not made a

decision but am listening to the many views on this issue.”

Councilwoman-at-Large Debbie Ortega

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 10

King’s 1964 Visit To Park Hill Remembered

Cara DeGette

On Jan. 13 the Denver City Council unanimously approved a proclamation honoring Martin Luther King Jr., highlight-ing the civil rights leader’s visit to Park Hill 50 years ago.

Councilman Christopher Herndon, whose district includes northeast Park Hill, sponsored the proclamation after reading about King’s visit to Denver in the Janu-ary Greater Park Hill News. King’s visit in 1964 was designed to recognize Park Hill’s national stature as a purposefully integrated neighborhood, and to promote what be-came the Civil Rights Act passed later that year.

“I can’t think of a more fitting way to honor his life and legacy,” Herndon said, introducing the proclamation. Noting that King was only 39 years old when he was as-sassinated in 1968, the councilman pointed out that King “didn’t have a chance to travel to many places … but Park Hill was one of them.”

The Denver City Council also recognized Park Hill residents Dick and Lorie Young. In 1964 Dick Young was chairman of the Denver Commission on Human Relations, which sponsored King’s visit to the city.

“I have to admit I was surprised to real-ize he was only 39 years old when he died,” said Council President Mary Beth Susman. “He was truly an old soul; his impact was so great.”

Among the highlights of the proclama-tion:

“WHEREAS, part of the impetus of Dr. King’s visit to Park Hill was the neighbor-hood’s position at the forefront of the na-tional movement to integrate communities, from housing to public schools; and

“WHEREAS, Park Hill residents, Dick Young and his wife, Lorie, hosted Dr. King and shared his commitment to breaking down racial barriers in our great City and across the nation; and

“WHEREAS, Denver churches and or-ganizations are planning various events to mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s three-day visit to Denver.” …

… “That the Denver City Council en-courages residents of the City and County of Denver to remember the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the words he spoke to spur collaboration among all people, stating that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Denver City Councilman Christopher Herndon, with Dick and Lorie Young, after passage of a proclamation recognizing the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s visit to Park Hill in January. During King’s visit, the Young’s hosted a party to honor King at their Park Hill home. Photo: Cara DeGette

Celebrating Civil Rights

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 11

Thousands turned out to march in the country’s largest marade on Jan. 20 to honor the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. The marade – a blending of the word “march” and “parade” – started at City Park in Denver, and continued down Colfax Avenue before ending at Civic Center Park downtown. Photos by Mark Silverstein

Celebrating Civil Rights

MLK Jr. Marade Redux

Park Hill Teen Receives Humanitarian Award

On Jan. 14, Park Hill’s Josephine “Josie” Shumway Brady received the Dr. Joyce Ma-rie Davis Outstanding Youth Award during the 2014 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human-itarian Awards ceremony. Brady, a sopho-more at East High School, was honored for her extensive community service.

This is what MLK Chair Vern Howard wrote about the young activist:

“Josie’s mom is the one who got her start-ed in volunteering and community service. She has always taken her to meetings and events, so Josie helped wherever she could. She believes that ‘to one much is given, much is required.’ She also believes in Dr. King’s quote ‘Everybody can be great ... be-cause anybody can serve.’

“Josie has worked as a volunteer with many organizations and events in addi-tion to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ma-rade, including The Bike Depot, Park Hill, The Cherry Creek Sneak, Colorado Rock-ies Home Run for the Homeless, Jefferson Jackson Dinner, World Vision Warehouse, Denver Urban Ministries, Food Bank of the Rockies, The Donor Dash, Committee for Youth Gatherings, Conference Council on Youth Ministries, Colorado Ceasefire CF, Denver City Park Alliance, and many oth-ers. She is also active in martial arts, theatre, cross country, and choir.”

Said Josie’s mom, Jacqui Shumway: “I’m

just so glad she’s living her life joyfully. She just loves being alive.”

Other 2014 Humanitarian Award recipi-ents include:• Rose Shipp, posthumously awarded,

founder, African-American Quilters and Collectors Guild

• Tom Luehrs, Executive Director of the St. Francis Center

• Murugan Palani, Board Chairperson, Rocky Mountain Minority Supplier De-velopment Council

• Pastor Rober Woolfolk, Mrs. Eddie Wool-folk, Agape Christian Church, The Hon-orable Menola Upshaw Lifetime Achieve-ment Award

• Thelma Gash, former Principal, Denver Public Schools, The Honorable Menola Upshaw Lifetime Achievement Award

Brady Honored at MLK Tribute Concert

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 12

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Mar 1

Where Crime Doesn’t Pay

By Neil Funsch

The Denver Police Department reports break-ins in Park Hill are slightly on the rise. It’s not exactly an epidemic, but last year there were 233 reported burglaries in Park Hill, up from 221 the year before. The most dramatic increase was in south Park Hill, which reported 80 burglaries – a spike from 38 the year before.

Other suspicious activities have been reported in the neighborhood as of late: A midnight knock on the front door, with no one there when it is answered. Unrecog-nized cars creeping along streets.

All this got me to thinking about my home security and what I could do to pro-tect my Park Hill “castle.” A few minutes of research, and I was reminded of several protective steps to take. I also uncovered some new infor-mation worth sharing.

A recent book, Burglars on the Job, by Richard T. Wright and Scott H. Decker, revealed some interesting in-sights into the way burglars think.

Although home burglaries may seem ran-dom in occurrence, the selection process is fairly simple. Burglars tend to choose unoc-cupied homes with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and the best es-cape routes.

Here are some other useful tidbits:• They take note of piled up newspapers on

the driveway or front porch.• They check Facebook postings about va-

cation or trip announcements.• During this time of year they look for

untracked snow drifts on driveway or front steps. In the summer they notice un-mowed yards.

• They hate loud dogs and nosy neighbors.• They will drive or walk the streets look-

ing in windows to see if your home and to look for objects. Their favorite time is in the evening when your lights are on before you close your blinds.

• They are aware that people often don’t lock their windows so they are on the lookout for cracked or open windows.

• They also know that many people have alarm systems but don’t turn them on.Experienced burglars know to look for

hidden keys in planter boxes, under door-mats, and above the ledge. They even know what the fake rocks look like. So the best so-lution is to leave spare keys with neighbors when you are out of town.

A favorite trick is to knock on the front door to see if anyone is at home. If someone answers they will then ask for directions or offer to clean your gutters.

If necessary they will break a window. Most neighbors, if they hear a loud noise, will stop what they’re doing and wait to see if they hear it again. If they don’t, they just return to what they are doing.

Once inside, they tend to check dresser

drawers, bedside table and medicine cabi-nets. So hiding valuables under your undies is ineffective.

They generally won’t mess with a safe, but if it’s not bolted down they can take it with them.

They know human nature and will sel-dom go into children’s rooms because peo-ple don’t hide precious objects there. Par-ents unconsciously won’t put their children at risk.

This should get you to thinking about your habits. Now, some general informa-tion for how to thwart the would-be burglar:

Make your home more difficult to enter. A burglar will bypass your home if it requires too much effort, or requires more skill and tools than they possess. Experienced bur-glars know that the garage door is usually

the weakest point of entry followed by the back door. The garage and back doors also provide the most cover. So motion detectors can discourage accessing those areas at night.

Become a good neighbor. Good neigh-bors will watch over your home or apart-ment when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the police, or to you with a phone call or email. Get to know your neighbors on each side and the three across the street. In Park Hill most people already have done that, but if not it’s a good excuse to go visiting. Of course you will need to be a good neighbor too.

Finally, here are a few burglary preven-tion basics:• Make your home look occupied, and

make it difficult to break in. • Lock all outside doors and windows be-

fore you leave the house or go to bed. • Leave lights on when you go out. If you

are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.

• Keep your garage door closed and locked. • Stop mail and newspaper deliveries while

you are away. • Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you

are going away for an extended time. • Check your locks on doors and windows

and replace them with secure devices as necessary.

• Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.

• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.

• Protect yourself and help keep the neigh-borhood safe. Spread the word and let’s become a neighborhood where burglars know they would be wasting their time.

Neil Funsch has been a mortgage broker for 18 years, the last four in Park Hill. He can be reached at 303-229-2684 or neil.funsch@gmail.com.

Tips to Thwart Burglars

Excludes Shuttersand Drapes. Somerestrictions apply.Expires: 12/31/13

neIl FunsChaT hoMe

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 13

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Thomas Jefferson and Stream Restoration

Three important policy questions about the idea of restoring portions of Montclair Creek from 13th Avenue to Jasmine Street are:

Who pays for the restoration? Why do they pay?How do they pay?These questions clearly beg a pair of

underlying questions: 1) How did we get in the position of streams needing restora-tion? 2) Who got us there?

Let’s start with Thomas Jefferson, the son of a land surveyor.

After the Revolutionary War, Jefferson proposed a national survey, whereby the federal government would survey large areas of land quickly and inexpensively. Through the Land Ordinance of 1785, the entire country west of the original colo-nies was surveyed and laid out in a series of large grids. The Township and Range system exemplified the values of the Euro-pean Enlightenment, imposing an orderly, systematic frame of meaning to the largely unknown wilderness west of Jefferson’s Vir-ginia.

In 1861, the Surveyor-General of the United States prepared a map tying the Denver area into that grid system. A por-tion of that map, below, shows Townships, 6 miles square, which are divided into 36 Sections, each one-mile square. These Sec-tions could, in turn, be subdivided into smaller plots, more easily sold to people of limited means. Jefferson foresaw that once the land was subdivided, citizens could buy it at “affordable” prices. Americans of modest means could become independent landowners, a prerequisite in his mind for a true democracy.

Flash forward 17 years.

In 1878, Major John Wesley Powell, first Director of the United States Geological Survey, prepared for the U.S. Congress his Report on the lands in the Arid Region of the United States. Recognizing that water would be the limiting resource in future development of the arid west, Powell pro-posed that drainage divides be the organiz-ing land use principle in the west instead of Cartesian (or Jeffersonian) boundaries drawn along arbitrary lines. Rectilinear surveys used to divide properties and po-litical entities in the rainy east would not work in the drier west.

Congress ignored Powell’s recommenda-tion. Since 1878 – for more than 125 years – elected officials and much of the public and private land use planning and engineering

community have largely continued the practice of dividing properties and politi-cal entities along arbitrary lines.

MAPS

1st Map (the big-picture view)

The east-west (Township) line in the cen-ter of the map is the alignment for Colfax Avenue. The north-south (Range) line in the middle is the alignment for Colorado Boulevard. One mile north of Colfax is 26th Avenue and one mile south is 6th Avenue. One mile east of Colorado Boulevard is Holly Street, and two miles east is Quebec Street. The map also shows the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and other smaller streams in the Denver area in 1861 (includ-ing Montclair Creek), and the boundaries of present-day City Park. 2nd Map (Zooming into Greater Park Hill)

Now, take a look at the second map. It is simply a zoomed-in version of the first, but focusing on the Greater Park Hill por-tion of Montclair Creek. In both maps, the green rectangle is City Park, including the zoo area and the golf course. Street align-ments on a ½ mile grid (Montview Boule-vard and 11th Avenue; Steele Street, Dahlia Street and Monaco Street Parkway) have been added.

Next month – Where does the discussion above lead us in terms of stream restora-tion?

Brian Hyde is an expert on floodplain management and stream restoration. He wants your feedback at westerly_connect_brian@comcast.net or 720-939-6039.

resTorInG our waTershedsBrIan hyde

Americans of modest means could become

independent landowners, a prerequisite in his mind for

a true democracy.

cial Health Assistance Site staffed by certified Health Coverage Guides who can help you determine the type of insurance coverage for which you are eligible. They will explore with you the options that are available and assist you in getting enrolled. The guides do not sell insurance, but simply provide un-biased support throughout the process. There is no cost for this service. One-on-one assistance is available on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can drop by or call to schedule an appointment by calling 720-891-6994. The Open Enrollment period to purchase health insurance and, thus, avoid paying a penalty, ends on March 31.

LEARN HOW TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIESDenver Community Emergency Response Training (Denver CERT) is holding an emer-gency/disaster preparedness and response training course to teach basic response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and emergency/disaster medical operations. The training is free and open to the first 40 people who sign up. There are three days of classes, and students must attend all three days to complete the course. Classes will be held:Feb. 6, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.A class exercise will be March, 2014 (Date, time and location to be announced)Classes will be held at University of Denver2/6/2014 will be Sturm Hall room 134, 2000 E. Asbury Ave., Denver2/8/2014 and 2/15/2014 University Hall room 306, 2197 S. University Blvd., DenverAt the end of the training, participants are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emer-gency preparedness projects in our community.The training is sponsored by Denver’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS); University of Denver; Den-ver Fire Department; Denver Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Colorado North Central Region, To register, go to http://www.denvergov.org/oem. For More Informa-tion: email DenverCERT@denvergov.org or call 303.725.3084

Announcements, continued from page 4

Winter Sewing Camp • Intro to Sewing Crafty Creations • Weekend Workshops

Parties • Mommy & Me Classes Festive Felt Projects • Group or Private Sewing Lessons • Sip-n-Sew for Adults

Traci Gillespie sewcreativestapleton@gmail.com

sewcreativestapleton.com

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 14

Teeth Can Be a Ticking Time Bomb

Do you brush your dog or cat’s teeth daily or at least weekly? Do you use dental prod-ucts such as water additives or chews regu-larly? Would you miss seeing your dentist and dental hygienist on a regular schedule each year?

Why start with all the questions? Because there might be a ticking time bomb lurking in your pet’s mouth – can you see or smell it? I’ll confess that I don’t brush my dog’s or my cats’ teeth. Part of it is time or the lack there-of, but the other is personality – none of the three furry creatures that live in my house would be willing to have their teeth brushed without great struggle and stress. So it is okay to answer ‘no’ – that you do not regular-ly brush your pet’s teeth. But if you are not brushing or using some pet dental care products, your cat or dog may require more regular dental clean-ings to keep their oral cavity in good shape.

Time of a different kind also plays a role in our pets’ oral health. A year is a year to a human, but our set calendar does not match the physiologic time clock affecting your pet. As an adult cat or dog, they are aging roughly three years for every six months of human time. If you only landed in your dentist’s chair for cleaning and evaluation every three years, there would be a whole lot more disease to be dealt with – fillings, root canals and more.

Human dentists do a really great job edu-cating us about the benefits of preventative dental care. I would much rather have my teeth cleaned than experience another root canal. As veterinarians, we strive to educate our pet owners about dental health care, but we run into resistance to the investment of that care. Why? There are a plethora of rea-sons, but I’ll take these top four:

There is a cost involved. The cost of pet care comes directly from our discretionary

income after all the other bills, debts and demands are met. However, the cost will be definitely greater for your pet in terms of pain, infection and a shortened life span. And, it will have greater impact on your wallet if it becomes an emergency dental procedure.

There is anesthesia involved. However, anesthesia is not the big scary deal that many would have you believe. It lets a pet be stress and pain free while allowing your veterinary staff to do the most thorough

evaluation, cleaning and treatment possible.Times have changed. Pet owners have

pushed and demanded that veterinary med-icine in many areas offer the same level of care that they themselves receive, including dental care. We’ve come a long way in the past 20 to 30 years in helping pets live longer because of preventative care, including pre-ventative veterinary dental care with regular cleanings when needed.

Veterinarians are not just trying to up-sell unsuspecting owners into costly pro-cedures. Our education, whose foundation is evidence-based medicine, teaches us through training and experience that pre-ventative and interventional dental care re-ally do make a difference. And, preventative care always is a better course than interven-tional care in terms of cost, stress for a pet and more.

So avoid any oral ticking time bombs and get your own and your pet’s or pets’ oral health assessed regularly.

Dr. Margot can be reached at parkhillvet.com.

dr. MarGoT vahrenwaldPark hIll veT

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 15

Planned Opening 2015!

SEED High School

Park Hill Educator Bringing Governor’s School to Colorado

By Lynn Kalinauskas

Park Hill resident and longtime educator Celeste Archer has been working tirelessly from her home office on Hudson Street to bring the Governor’s School to Colorado. The school is set to launch as a pilot project with an initial group of high school stu-dents who will partake in the making of the course.

The Colorado Governor’s School is part of a national association that seeks to empower young and talented students by immersing them in academic and intellectual work in a summer residential program, aimed at pre-paring them for college and life.

The first Governor’s School was estab-lished by North Carolina’s governor in 1963. Today, 23 states host Governor’s Schools for motivated high school students.

Archer has been a secondary educator for 20 years, and has taught at urban schools in Houston, Arkansas and Denver.  Growing up in Arkansas, Archer said that the world opened up for her on the many camps she attended as a youth. In particular, she recalls a Colorado winter camp in which she took part.

“My mind just opened up,” she said. Growing up in the 70s, she also had the op-portunity to take a six-month traveling high school class with five college professors. She and the group toured the United States and Mexico. Though there are parts of that trip that still make her cringe, she said, she is certain of its impact: “It simply changed my life.”

It is this experience of being exposed to greater things, different points of view, new challenges and experiences that will define the Colorado Governor’s School mission, she said. The school will be fully imple-mented in summer 2015 with the cohort of students who are participating in the pilot, along with additional students to move to-

ward the eventual goal of 400 students per summer.

Representative of all the state’s districts, students will bring their own perspectives to share with fellow students. These particular students will have a big role to play in the success of the school. They will meet for the first time in April and within a year will cre-ate the legislation or executive order needed to fully implement the Colorado Governor’s School. They will meet representatives of the governor’s office and state legislators to discuss the school’s planning, coursework and budget.

“Learning all the facets of how you cre-ate and fund an education program, makes the Governor’s School in Colorado truly unique,” Archer said.

The cost per-pupil is expected to be ap-proximately $2,500, she said. Some states with the programs fully fund their Gov-ernor’s School with a budget line item. In Colorado, Archer is working towards a col-laboration of private and public funds to finance the project. The Kiely Family Foun-dation has approved funding for the pilot, and Archer said she will soon embark on a campaign to raise $5 million for the school.

“The goal is to raise enough money to have the program fully-funded so that stu-dents can attend at no cost to them or their families,” she said.

A unique feature of the Colorado pro-gram is that at least 50 percent of attendees will come from low-income families and/or will be the first generation in their families to attend college. “I hope other Governor’s Schools pick that up,” Archer said.

Believing that art should be part of the educational process, Archer is collaborating with Park Hill’s Art Garage. Students will visit the art studio and engage in creating a

multi-faceted curriculum that incorporates art. They will also spend time at the Mu-seum of Nature and Science, eat and volun-teer at SAME Café on East Colfax Avenue – a restaurant where patrons pay what they

can – and engage in other experiences unique to Denver.

Colorado’s his-tory, economics and politics will feature prominently in the

students’ course of study, with the History Colorado Center providing multiple valu-able resources via its staff and exhibits.

Students attending the Colorado Gover-nor’s School will be asked to fulfill a public service practicum for which they will need to research, plan, discuss and submit pos-

sible solutions to real world issues such as water rights, immigration, employment and mental health. Their results and recom-mendations will be presented to commu-nity members, political leaders and others. The experience, Archer noted, will also give these students lifelong friends and connec-tions.

The Colorado Governor’s website is cur-rently under construction but you can visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/Colo-radoGovernorsSchoolor or email cogov-school@gmail.com for more information. The website for the national Governors School is http://ncogs.org/.

Lynn Kalinauskas is Chair of the Education Committee for the Greater Park Hill Com-munity.

Residential Program Aims to Prepare Students For Life

Left: Students at a protest and peace rally; Right: Archer, goofing around with her son. Photos Courtesy of Celeste Archer

lynn kalInauskassChools uPdaTe

GPhC education Chair

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 16

By Regina Renee Ward

Pauline Robinson Branch Library is for-tunate to have a dedicated volunteer come in five days a week, for four hours, to assist with math, shelving and other light duties.

I got a chance to sit down with Mr. Larry Holmes and hear more of his story. I wanted to share it with everyone, as we approach his 20-year anniversary here at our location.

Q: I have been here at the Pauline Rob-inson branch library for nine months now and I don’t know your last name. What is your last name?

A: Holmes, like Sherlock Holmes.

Q: Are you like Sherlock Holmes?A: No, but I enjoy reading the books. He’s

always using deductive reasoning and solv-ing the case.

Q: You have been here since the begin-ning. What is your library story?

A: I came here, back in 1995, to try to help the kids in the neighborhood with their math. I’ve seen a lot of kids grow up and go to college … that makes me feel good. I was retired from the state, sitting at home driving Mama crazy. Being here gives me something to do. It makes me feel good if they get out of school.

Q: What about the children? Is there one who stands out in your memory?

A: I had one who thought he was so smart. He challenged me to chess, but then he had an attitude when he lost.

Q: I know you tutor and help with math, but I know that as much as you like math you also like to read. Do you have a favor-ite book?

A: The dictionary. I help some people with the GED, and the dictionary is a big help. I like action books mostly. I can’t stand a love story. I don’t read shoot ‘em ups anymore. What I try to do is run across a writer I like and read. Clive Cussler is my main man. I’ve done read every one of his books. I’ve been reading them for about 20 years. When I come home I like to sit down and relax for 30 minutes unless Mama has a “honey do” list for me.

Mr. Larry is full of funny anecdotes and down home wisdom. Stop by Pauline Rob-inson and chat with him yourself. Perhaps he will convince you to become a library

volunteer and someone will be interviewing you for the newspaper in 20 years. Branch programs are listed below. See you at the library.

Pauline Robinson Branch Library programs

After School is Cool (ASIC) | Monday through Friday, 4 p.m.

In February, ASIC will continue with Monday Madness and Friday Fun – both include various crafts, Legos and games. The Denver Zoo will lead the programs on Tues-days. We will continue with our Wednesday craft program. Mandy Medrano will be vis-iting on Thursdays to teach youth how to cook foods like Mexican crepes, blue corn pancakes, and other delicious snacks.Movie discussion and clips of Freedom Riders | Thursday, Feb. 13, 5:30 p.m.

In celebration of Black History Month, the library will present Freedom Riders, an important documentary about the time period during civil rights era when people came together to stop segregation. Special Guest Rev. James Peters, Jr. will lead a pow-erful and insightful discussion along with showing clips of the film.Family Storytime| Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m.

All ages are welcome for stories, music and fun.

Pauline Robinson Book Club| Saturday, Feb. 22, 12 p.m.

Calling Me Home: A Novel by Julie Kibler

Park Hill Branch Library Programs

All Ages Storytime | Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

All ages are welcome for this storytime. We may do a craft, play musical instru-ments, or have some fun with the parachute! No registration required.Book Babies: Early Walkers | Thursdays at 11:15 a.m.

Stories, action songs, and rhymes devel-oped to meet the needs of babies on the move and their caregivers. Playtime and so-cialization immediately follow the program. No registration required.Tales for Twos | Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Join us for a storytime just for two-year-

olds and their caregivers. We will share books, sing songs, and provide movement activities. No registration required.Book Babies: Pre-Walkers | Fridays at 11:15 a.m.

Stories, Rhymes, and lap songs developed to meet the needs of infants and their care-givers. Playtime and socialization immedi-ately follow the program. No registration required. Pajama Storytime | Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Join us for the Park Hill Branch Library’s PJ storytime! Stories, songs, and fun for all ages. Come in your pajamas! Stuffed ani-mals and blankies welcome! No registration required.Teen Advisory Board (TAB) | Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m.

Students grades 6-12 are invited to join the Park Hill TAB. Help plan library events and projects at the Park Hill Library, talk about your favorite books, and make your opinion count! Join us for twice monthly meetings.Genre Chat Book Club | Thursday, Feb. 20, 3:30 p.m.

A book club for grades 2-3. We will ex-

plore a variety of book genres, and partici-pate in discussions, crafts, and activities re-lated to the story. This month we will read Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner. Reg-istration is suggested but not required. Call 720-865-0250 or visit the library to sign up.Teen Book Club | Thursday, February 20, 4:30 p.m.

A reading group for teens in grades 6-12 that meets to talk about books, eat snacks, play games, and have some laughs. Bring your friends! This month we’ll be reading Dodger by Terry Pratchett. Registration is suggested but not required.eBook 101 Class | Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

Download popular eBooks FREE from the Denver Public Library! Learn how to find, check out, download, and transfer eB-ooks and audio eBooks to any device. If you have a device and/or laptop, please bring them to class. No registration required.Rock and Read | Saturday, Feb. 15, 2:30 p. m.

An active program geared towards chil-dren ages 3-7 and their grown-ups! We will incorporate books and literacy with music, dance, and movement activities. No regis-tration required.

aT T h e l I B r a r yDeductive Reasoning With Mr. Larry Holmes

“I cannot live without brain-work. What else is there to live for?”

The detective Sherlock Holmes, from The Sign of Four

Mr. Larry Holmes has been a fixture at the Pauline Robinson Branch Library for 20 years.

www.saintthomasdenver.org303-388-4395

2201 Dexter Street, DenverSt. Thomas welcomes All to our historic Denver landmark

February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 17

keeP your neIGhBorhood sTronG!Join Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.

We have a variety of memberships. All memberships are tax deductible.

[ ] New member [ ] Membership renewal

If these membership levels are not suitable, GPHC will gratefully accept a donation for membership dues at a level that is comfortable for you and your family.Name: __________________________________________________________Business name:___________________________________________________Address & Zip:____________________________________________________Phone:_______________________(work) ________________________(home)Email: ___________________________________________________________

Mail to: GPHC, 2823 Fairfax Street, Denver CO 80207

___ Individual or Family ($25/year)___ Business or Sustaining ($50/year)

___ Sponsoring Member ($100/year)___ Patron ($250/year)___ Other

After working with Erica and Michael By-rne, fellow Park Hill residents who recently lost their magnificent black walnut tree, I felt compelled to write an article about how to choose one for your property.

The Byrnes purchased their Clermont Street home just over a year ago. A major selling point of the property was the unique and beautiful tree specimens that graced

both the front yard and the back yard – in-cluding a beautiful walnut tree that provid-ed shade, privacy and natural definition to their garden border.

After only a few months in the home and becoming memorized by the tree’s beauty, they were notified that the tree must come down due to Thousand Cankers Disease. Devastated, they have slowly come to terms with the fact that a new tree must be planted. And, that whatever tree they decide to put in its place will not come close to the aes-thetic brilliance of the once-coveted black walnut tree.

Needless to say, filling a vacant space in the landscape is a task not taken lightly, especially where a once-stunning, mature tree lived for decades. Fortunately, however, Park Hill is able to support an array of arbo-real life and there are considerable choices. From redbuds, to maples, to oaks, to the rare and unique larch tree (which the Byrnes are blessed to have on their property) to the Japanese tree lilac, we have amazing choices.

A site analysis a good place to begin prior to planting a tree. CSU offers soil testing and

analysis (www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu). Likewise, there are numerous certified ar-borists and tree care companies that can provide knowledgeable guidance and assist you with your decision.

In addition to creating a “pro-con” list, take into account the following consider-ations:

Location. Where is the new tree being planted? Is it close to the home or in the middle of your border? Think about the tree when it matures in 10 to 20 years. Assessing your micro-cli-mate is key. Does the area have high winds, southern sun exposure or low points that tend to be moister?

Purpose. What will the tree provide? Pri-vacy? Shade? Hierarchy in the garden?

Aesthetic. Do you want something that is dynamic (producing flowers, berries, fall color) or a simple evergreen for year-round interest? What shape do you like – pyrami-dal, oval, organic and over-reaching?

Maintenance. How much are you willing to maintain the tree? Will the tree require a lot of pruning because the limbs are too close to the window?

Not only do trees in your landscape add value to your property, they help to create uniqueness to it. They provide a hierarchy in the garden that implies a well-thought out design. They provide shelter for the birds and cast beautiful shadows on your lawn.

Trees are awesome. So, too, is the task in choosing which one will adorn your home.

The Byrnes have gracefully accepted their loss and have taken all of the proper steps to ensure that whatever tree they decide on, it will not only thrive in its location and serve its purpose, but compliment their beautiful Park Hill property.

February TipsContinue to winter water. A deep water at the base of your trees and shrubs is recom-

mended and best done mid-day and when temperatures are above 40 degrees. Water your perennials, as well. Warm, windy or dry periods will dry your soil out.

Draw out your veggie garden. (Remember, it needs at least six hours of sun a day.)Check seed catalogs and look for disease-resistant varieties. Prepare your seeds for your vegetable crops. Sow cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and

brussel seeds indoor in February to transplant into the garden in March or April.Cut back late-summer blooming shrubs (blue mist spirea, Russian sage, butterfly bush,

lavender or the like) down to 6” stubs in late February.Contact a certified arborist to assist with tree selection or other tree maintenance needs.

Marne norquIsTPark hIll rooTs

The Beauty of Trees

The underused European Larch (Larix decidua) - a semi-evergreen tree that can be used in Colorado landscapes given the proper micro-climate - requires some moisture and protection, can grow up to 75’ tall. Credit: Sciadopitys/Flickr

www.GreaterParkhill.org

20% offlabor on all interior

jobs performedin Nov ‘13-March ’14

bringing color to park hill

complete interior and exterior painting

call (303) 512-8777

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 18

ART GARAGE6100 E 23rd Ave., artgaragedenver.com, 303-377-2353Visit the Art Garage for free maps listing loca-tions and times of studio events.

DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE2001 Colorado Blvd., dmns.org, 303-370-6000

DENVER SCHOOL OF THE ARTS7111 Montview Blvd. dsapresents.orgCosts for most performances are: $10 Stu-dents & Seniors - $ 12 Adults

DENVER POLICE DISTRICT 23921 Holly St., 2.Dist@denvergov.org, 720-913-1000Commander Calo hosts the District 2 Commu-nity Advisory Board’s (2CAB) monthly meet-ings on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. in the D2 Police Station Community Room.

DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLSdpsk12.org/expo

DENVER ZOO2300 Steele St., denverzoo.org, 720-337-1400

FAITH COMMUNITYgreaterparkhill.org/faithGreater Park Hill’s faith community, home to over 30 places of worship in just four square miles, is as diverse and robust as the neighbor-hood itself. The GPHN maintains a list of Park Hill’s places of worship at the website above.

GPHC2823 Fairfax St., greaterparkhill.org, 303-388-0918The GPHC holds its monthly meetings on the first Thursdays of the month. The next regular community meeting of the GPHC will take place Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6:30pm at the GPHC offices.

HOLLY AREA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT (HARP)HOPE Center, 3475 Holly St.HARP holds second Monday monthly meeting at the HOPE Center from 6:15-7:30pm. RSVP required to lsullivan@denverfoundation.org.

LIBRARIESdenverlibrary.orgSee At the Library in this month’s issue for events at the Park Hill and Pauline Robinson Branch Libraries.

MOMTIME AT MONTVIEWmontviewmomtime.wordpress.comMomTime will focus on topics related to parent-ing, life balance, personal care and community service. Meets the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of each month in Room 305 at Montview Pres-byterian, 1980 Dahlia St., from 9:15-11:15am. Breakfast and childcare provided.

MUSIC JAMcharlespatrick08@yahoo.comNew music jam forming in Park Hill. Blues, folk, rock? Meet once a week, twice a month or monthly? Email ideas to the above address with Music in the subject line.

NORTHEAST DENVER PARENT SUPPORT GROUP2600 Leyden, kdot62@comcast.net, 303-329-8950Parents of children with a variety of special needs of all ages support and nurture one an-other, and share resources and ideas. Third or fourth Friday from 9:30-11:30am.

NORTHEAST PARK HILL COALITIOND2 Police Station, 3921 Holly St., Michele Wheeler, 720-837-5492

The NEPHC hosts its monthly meeting on the second Thursdays of the month at 6pm.

PARK HILL CRUISERSFind them on FacebookOccasional warm-weather rides make stops at local watering holes and host rider homes in Park Hill.

PARK HILL FAMILY BIKE RIDESFind them on FacebookFamily-friendly rides taking place in the warm-weather months.

PARK HILL NEW PARENTS GROUPmeetup.com/Park-Hill-ParentsPark Hill parents group offers playdates, out-ings, Dad’s Night Out and Mommy Book Club.

PARK HILL PELOTONparkhillpeloton.org or find them on FacebookA recreational group of road cyclists that roll from Park Hill once or twice a week.

PROJECT SUNSHINEsunshinefoodproject.org, 303-321-5231The group is working to realize a cooperative-ly-owned grocery at 35th and Albion.

SACRED i YOGA2212 Kearney, mysacredi.com, 303-355-5856

SCIENTIFIC & CULTURAL FACILITIES DISTRICT FREE DAYSCheck out scfd.org

SERTOMA CLUB303-370-0932The Greater Park Hill Sertoma Club holds a breakfast meeting every first and third Satur-day morning at 8am at the District 2 Police Station, 3921 Holly Street.

SHARE DENVERsharedenver.com, 2829 Fairfax St.

SIE FILMCENTER2510 E. Colfax, denverfilm.org, 303-595-3456

TAI CHI PROJECTtaichiproj@earthlink.net, 303-744-7676Tai Chi classes Thursday mornings in City Park at 7-7:45am planned in conjunction with DMNS.

TATTERED COVER TRAVEL LOVERS BOOK CLUB The book club meets the 2nd Monday of each month at the Tattered Cover at 2526 E. Colfax Ave.

TEMPLE MICAHmicahdenver.org, 303-388-4239

VENTURE PREP2540 Holly Street, ventureprep.org, 303-893-0805

WALK2CONNECTwww.walk2connect.com Park Hill Sunrise Walking Trips set off every Tuesday morning from Adagio Baking Com-pany at 23rd and Dexter at 7am. Walks are about one hour long, just under 3 miles, and family and dog friendly. For more information, email jonathon@walk2connect.com or call 303-908-0076.

ZUMBA IN PARK HILLPark Hill United Methodist Church, kfarmer@milehighfitness.com, 720-436-3899Classes Saturdays from 9-10am. First class free, $7 drop-ins, $39 for 6 class punch card.

Submit your neighborhood events to editor@greaterparkhill.org.

evenTs lIsTInGs

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February 2014 The Greater Park Hill News Page 19

ROOFInGResidential reroofing and repairs, 17 years’ experience, licensed, bonded, and insured. Gutter replacement and cleaning. www.ac-curateroofingandmasonry.com. Call Shawn 303-907-9223.

PLUMBInGJH Edwards Plumbing & Heating. Large or small jobs, quality work at fair prices. From repairs to remodeling, bath, kitchen upgrades, & problem solving. Lic & insured. Jim 303-883-9030.

HAnDyMAnHoney Do Right Home Repair, LLC. Park Hill Resident, John Betlz, wants you safe and hap-py. Painting, wall repair, grab bars, hand rails, loud door bells, minor electrical. Bonded In-sured. Call Text 720-998-4526 honeydoright@gmail.com.

Handyman/Contractor-Licensed, Insured, Residential, Commercial. All Maintenance items. J&K Enterprises 303-921-3398. No job too small.

ELECTRICALRAY’S ELECTRICAL SERVICE. 14 Years in Park Hill. Quality work. Reasonable rates. Friendly, neat, reliable. Plenty of references. 30 years experience. Licensed and insured. 720-350-8282

MASOnRy SERVICESBrick, Stone, Concrete, restoration, tuck point-ing, chimney’s, retaining walls, city sidewalks. licensed, bonded, and insured. www.thebri-ckandstoneguy.com References. Call Shawn 303-907-9223

LAnDSCAPInGGREATSCAPES: Landscape design and con-struction, family owned and operated. Outdoor living spaces, xeriscaping, flagstone, sod, ir-rigation, retaining walls, millwork, pergolas, trellises, planters and more. Oustanding ref-

erences. Jeff 303-322-5613.

LIFE InSURAnCETerm, Whole, Indexed Universal and Living Benefits. Don’t wait till it’s too late! Apply Now. Resident Agent delivers quotes promptly. Awe-some Old Fashioned SERVICE. 303-668-2154 email: kohlmahealth@aol.com

MUSIC LESSOnSDrum lessons – guaranteed results, East Side Drums. 303-320-0514.

CHILD CAREPART TIME “Playschool for Toddlers”. A MUST SEE! Holly and Cherry Creek Drive. (Limit 3. Ages 1-3. W-T-F. 7:45am-5:45pm.) Where “fun” and “learning” hold hands every day. By-lingual (Portuguese), licensed, experienced with excellent references. For further informa-tion: ontheball4u@aol.com

GPHC WISH LISTDonations of needed in-kind gifts and talents help us to offset expenses to serve the com-munity more efficiently. Please contact Robyn Fishman at 303-388-0918 or director@great-erparkhill.org if you can help with any of the following:• A 3-5 ft. short ladder/very sturdy step stool• Unexpired canned fruit, canned chicken, ham

or beef; fresh dairy, bread, produce or frozen meat for our Emergency Food pantry

• Toiletries, toilet paper and paper towels or hand towel refills, pet food donations

• Floor mats for entry ways• Laminating sheets or a laminating machine• 4 or 6 ft. folding tables• Gift cards for grocery stores, Target, office

supply stores• Donations toward a new awning at the GPHC

Office at 2823 Fairfax• Label maker and supplies

• Volunteers needed: Food Pantry distribution help on Wednes-

days, food sorters, Blockworkers to deliver the Greater Park Hill News, help to remove snow for the GPHC office and senior neigh-bors, and/or plant our garden in the spring

GPhn Cl assIFIeds

To advertise in the Classifieds, contact Bernadette kelly 720-287-0442

newspaper@greaterparkhill.orgthe deadline for submitting a classified ad is the 15th of every month

Superior House Cleaning ServicesD.M.Gonz6@gmail.com

The Greater Park Hill News February 2014Page 20

Xcel Energy believes that solar energy is a big part of a clean energy future.

But to bring the greatest benefits of solar to the greatest number of people, we have to do it right.

Using the same dedication to renewable energy that made us the number one wind utility in the nation, Xcel Energy is working to develop and support large-scale solar projects that deliver clean, renewable solar energy at a lower cost.

A clean energy future to build on. A strong energy grid to depend on. Xcel Energy believes our customers deserve both.

WE BELIEVE IN SOLAR ENERGY.

IN A BIG WAY.IN THE RIGHT WAY.

xcelenergy.com/ResponsibleSolar © 2014 Xcel Energy Inc.

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At the Mental Health Center of Denver, we believe in the resiliency of children. So we give them and their families the tools and support to overcome the challenges they face. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we enrich the lives of over 5,000 families every year. And each one of those families is part of a healthier, stronger community. Learn more about our efforts at MHCD.ORG/COMMUNITY.

Publication: The Greater Park Hill News

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