UNIVERSITY PARK COMMUNITY COUNCIL
(UPCC) NEWSLETTER
Your Neighborhood Voice
September 2016 • www.upcc.us
South High School Engages Our Community
by Karen Duell, Community/Family
Liaison, South High School
South welcomes community
Inside:
NEW Purple Pages
You should have received your
new Purple Pages with this UPWords.
We’ve continued the streamlined
format from last year. If you have
any comments or concerns, please
contact Janet Bardwell at
[email protected]. Thank you to Dave
Easton of Elevation Realty for
supporting the Purple Pages 20162017. Thank you also to Kathryn
and Bill Winn for supporting UPCC.
members to participate in many of our
activities, such as this summer’s
nationally recognized, 241 Athletic
Summer Camp, which received very
positive feedback from the students and
parents who were involved.
On October 26, we’ll be sponsoring
Trick or Treat Street, a safe and fun
Halloween event for elementary-aged
children. There, our own students help
to organize the event and entertain
guests with games, face painting, prizes
and, of course, candy.
The community is also invited to
attend Showcase Night, when 8th grade
parents and current 8th grade students
can learn more about South and meet
our new principal Jen Hanson, as well
Attention University Park Residents
Please Join Us For Our
Fall General Meeting
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
University Park Elementary School
6:30 p.m. Refreshments And Social Time • 7 p.m. Meeting
AGENDA
• President’s Update and Introduction of New Board Members/
Recognition of Traci Samaras, outgoing President
(Debbie Harrington — UPCC President)
• Denveright Program/Mobility Issues Committee
(Rosemary Stoffel, Transportation Co-Chair)
• “Be A SmartASH” Program
(Sara Davis, Program Manager, from the Office of the City Forester)
• City Council Issues (Paul Kashmann — City Councilman)
• Q and A
NOTE: There will be a special drawing for two tickets to Taste of DU on
Homecoming Weekend, October 14-15, valued at $50. Donated by DU Good
Neighbors.
The meeting is open to all residents and will adjourn by 8:15 p.m.
as our Homecoming Football Game,
our art shows and theatre productions,
movie nights and more!
South has partnerships with more
than 30 community organizations,
which provide enrichment, job
opportunities, career speakers and job
shadowing. It is our neighbors that help
maintain South’s reputation as one of
the best high schools in Denver. If your
organization or business would like to
be a partner with us, please contact us.
And come visit us!
Bands In The Park
Bands in the Park, which took place
on Sunday, August 7, featured two
bands (The Minding and Laughing
Hands) performing a variety of music
for roughly 150 attendees of all ages.
It was a perfect example of a classic
neighborhood gathering, complete
with cake (in celebration of the
130th anniversary of the UPCC) and
ice cream, dancing children, wellbehaved dogs and appreciative
listeners.
Special thanks to Susan Cox, of
The Minding, for volunteering to
arrange the evening’s entertainment,
which included a drawing for
giveaways from 730 South Restaurant,
Colore Italian Restaurant, Dairy Queen,
and Tulip Gift Shop. Many thanks to
the band sponsors: Swallow Hill
Music, Triumph Business Services
and 730 South. Elevation Realty
donated the treats provided by
Glacier Gelato, 3455 S. University
Blvd. Dr. Robert Stencel, of the
Chamberlin Observatory, generously
provided power for the show. Thanks
to UPCC’s Megan Bettinger for her
help and coordination, as well.
Letter From The President
by Debbie Harrington
Autumn is my favorite season. I love
the changing colors, the bit of frost in
the air, the smell of crisp leaves
underfoot. It is also a time for new
beginnings. As a child, I was always
excited about going back to school,
meeting new friends, getting
accustomed to a new classroom, a new
teacher, a new desk.
This autumn I am excited about my
newest endeavor — that of taking on
the Presidency for University Park
Community Council. While I was
originally to be installed last May, a
family medical emergency caused me to
delay until my personal situation settled
down. In the interim (from May to
August), our immediate past President,
Traci Samaras, generously agreed to
continue on as your President. I can
only hope that I can be as effective in
this role as she has been. Please join me
in gratitude for Traci’s leadership and
dedication over the past two plus years
as our President.
Summer was busy in University Park,
with our annual 4th of July celebration,
followed in August by our Bands in the
Park evening on August 7. See articles
about these two summer events in this
issue of UPWords.
Our community was deeply affected
by the fatal accident on Yale in July,
which tragically took the life of young
Cole Sukle, a student at Slavens
Elementary. University Park
Community Council unanimously
voted to make a donation to the Cole
Sukle Memorial Fund, which was
established by his family “with the
intent to use the funds in a way that
will carry on his name and legacy in the
community and impact generations to
come.” To contribute to the fund,
please visit
https://www.gofundme.com/2fmd83xy.
We are always looking for volunteers
for neighborhood events and projects,
or to serve on our Board. Current open
Board positions are Vice President,
Legacy & Historic Preservation,
Archives, Buchtel Boulevard Coalition,
and Interneighborhood Cooperation
Liaison. If you have an interest in
becoming more involved in our
exceptional neighborhood, please email
me at [email protected] and let me
know your interests and talents. We’ll
try to match you up with a meaningful,
fulfilling way to contribute!
Finally, please mark your calendars
for the following upcoming events:
• October 5, 2016 — UPCC General
Meeting — all neighborhood
residents are invited. Social time
begins at 6:30 p.m., with meeting to
follow from 7-8:15 p.m. at University
Park Elementary (see planned agenda
on page 1).
• November 16, 2016, 6-8 p.m. —
“Good Neighbors” meeting with
DU (location TBA)
• December 4, 2016, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
— Sing & Sleigh Bells event at
Observatory Park
I look forward to serving as your
President, and hope to meet many of
you at the October 5th General
Meeting.
Block Captains Update
Please note that some block captains
deliver our newsletter to multiple
blocks, so we are always looking for
new volunteer block captains!
Hopefully within the next six months,
we will have a plan in place for
providing small numbers of our
newsletters to residents of the many
apartment complexes in our
neighborhood. Let me know if you
want to participate in this effort.
Finally, thanks to Chris Johnson of
Thrivent Financial. The company’s
Action Grant contributed to the spring
Block Captain recognition event. For
more information on obtaining a grant,
contact Chris at 303-204-7826.
by Phyllis Ward, Area Coordinator
A special thank you to those block
captains who have retired or moved.
Your help has made a difference!
Thanks to: Dana Toriello, Rebecca and
Michael Brown, Charlene Salzmann,
Brooke Moore, Katherine and William
Bonnie, Frances and Bill Hall and Shelly
Dill Combs. Thanks also to our newest
block captains for being part of the
team: Katie Crawford, Tim and Marni
Welch, Joyce and Steve Fandal, Kristin
Kleimann-Duggan, Derek Pimm, Mary
Dunn, Katie Aspinwall, and Cheryl and
Bill Futera.
UPCC EXECUTIVE BOARD
President:
Debbie Harrington, 303-507-2652
[email protected]
Vice President: OPEN
Secretary: Megan Bettinger,
303-842-0687, [email protected]
Co-Treasurers:
Ryan Zorn & June Morgan,
[email protected]
STANDING COMMITTEES
Advisory: Bill Winn, 303-691-8703
[email protected]
Communications:
Liz Netzel, [email protected]
Legacy & Historic Preservation:
OPEN
Membership:
John Rogala, [email protected]
Neighborhood Safety:
Steven Hick, [email protected]
Open Space & Parks/Buchtel:
Diana Helper, 303-733-4902
[email protected]
Purple Pages: Janet Bardwell,
[email protected]
Co-Chairs Transportation,
Traffic & Sidewalks:
Rosemary Stoffel, 303-692-9197
& Jeanne Tubb, [email protected]
Zoning Chair:
Pat Cashen, [email protected]
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
(no vote on board)
Area Coordinator:
Phyllis Ward, 303-756-6146
[email protected]
Archives: OPEN
DU Liaison: Drew Hunter,
[email protected]
Email Communication:
Traci Samaras, [email protected]
Events: Derek Pimm,
[email protected]
Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation:
OPEN
Nominations: OPEN
UPark Elementary Liaison:
Andrea Steuer, [email protected]
UPark Gulch Trail: Tony Hurd,
[email protected]
Web Master: Dana Strand O’Connor,
[email protected]
______________________________
UPWORDS is published five times a
year, prior to the fall, winter and
spring general meetings, the special
Holiday issue for the Sing and
Sleigh, and the summer issue for the
4th of July Parade.
Fourth Of July Extravaganza
Our annual Fourth of July Parade boasted a colorful procession of creative floats,
including decorated strollers and wagons. Thank you to the UP Mom’s Club for the
free popsicles for all the parade kids and for running the hot dog stand. Dave
Easton of Elevation Realty provided bottled water and an artist who made balloon
animals for the kids. This annual event is a great way to meet your neighbors!
New Citywide Planning Initiative
To Shape Denver’s Future
recreation master plan
• Denver Moves: Transit, a new mobility
plan for transit in Denver
• Denver Moves: Pedestrians and Trails,
a new mobility plan for sidewalks,
crossings and trails
Denveright will be a communitydriven process from start to finish.
Residents will be able to share ideas
online on the Denveright website and at
community workshops and public
meetings. For more about the plans and
how to get involved, visit
DenverGov.org/Denveright. You can
also stay up-to-date by signing up for
our email newsletter and following us
on Twitter (@Denveright), Instagram
(@DenverightCO) and Facebook (City
and County of Denver Facebook page).
OPEN SPACE & PARKS UPDATE
by Diana Helper, Chair
BENCHED! Pam McCroskey of UP
has a mission — to get more park
benches in Observatory Park, which
now has six benches. We noted that
neither Prairie Park nor Buchtel
Centennial Park has a single bench. She
pointed out that the Observatory is a
historic building and people need a
place to sit and admire it. She
courageously contacted DPR and was
informed that there is no budget for
UP Elementary Hosts Fun Run And Carnival
Bring the family to the University Park Elementary School 1 Mile Fun Run
and Carnival on Sunday October 23. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. in the
school parking lot, the Run starts at 11:30 a.m. and the Carnival runs from 122:30 p.m. Carnival wristbands are $10, meal tickets are $5, and the $15 Run fee
includes an event T-shirt. (Parents can run for free with their children.) Enjoy
bouncy castles, games, face painting, prizes and more. All ages welcome!
Please note that the racecourse will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 11 a.m.
to noon on that day. The race begins at E. Iliff Ave. and S. Adams St. and heads west
to S. Fillmore St. Then it heads north and turns east onto E. Warren Ave. The race
goes east to S. Milwaukee, and heads south back to E. Iliff, and then east back to S.
Adams St. Denver Police Department officers will man the racecourse, and we thank
you in advance for your patience during the road closures.
History Tidbits
Our April issue contained the
following: Hospitality, hoops, honey,
horses, hooch and Davey Crockett.
Looking back in time, all of these
things could be found in a single
block of our UPark neighborhood.
Do you know which block?
Answer: the 2300 block of South
Cook. Story to follow in a future
UPWords.
This spring, Mayor Michael B.
Hancock launched Denveright, a
multi-agency planning initiative
unlike any the city has ever embarked
on. Encompassing four distinct
citywide plans and guided by input
from the community, Denveright will
establish a vision for Denver for the
next 20 years.
Denveright will shape Denver’s future
in the areas of land use, mobility, parks
and recreational resources, by
coordinating, for the first time, the
planning processes for:
• an update of Blueprint Denver,
the 2002 citywide land-use and
transportation plan
• an update of The Game Plan,
the 2003 citywide parks and
more benches and what’s more, the
“memorial” or honoring benches
program has been tabled. We wish her
well. Let us know if you wish to help
her in her mission. Ours is to get some
planting in the Prairie! Want to help?
And a zillion thanks to all Observatory
Park veggie garden volunteers!
THERE SHALL BE A SIGN! After
two years of effort, there are now
much-needed “No Parking to Corner”
signs in place on corners and alleys on
E. Asbury Ave. from S. Columbine to S.
Milwaukee. This is a vital safety
measure as there is scant sidewalk area
and bumper-to-bumper parking on this
street, where children and bike riders
(and parkers) walk in the street. Our
great thanks to Paul Kashmann’s aide,
Valerie Kerns, who credits “Amanda at
Public Works” for getting the signs
posted.
Free (And Nearly Free) DU Concerts
Lamont School of Music at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts
2244 E. Iliff Ave. (at the corner of Iliff and University)
Monday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.,
Unless otherwise noted, all
Gates Concert Hall
performances are at 7:30 p.m., in
•Convocation –
Hamilton Hall, are FREE and have
Andrew Litton, Artistic Advisor of
complimentary parking.
the Colorado Symphony
Information: www.du.edu/lamont,
Friday, October 21, 2:30 p.m.,
concert line — 303-871-6412, tickets
Gates Concert Hall, pay to park
— 303-871-7720.
•Jazz
– Live from Lamont,
September 2016
Student
Showcase
•Guest Artist – Dan Goble, saxophone
Friday,
October
21, 7:30 p.m.,
Tuesday, September 27, 7:30 p.m., $10
Williams
October 2016
•Jazz – Live from Lamont,
•Recital with Q&A –
Sebastian Noelle, guitar/composer,
Timothy Eddy, cello
with jazz faculty rhythm section
Friday, October 7, 12 p.m.,
Friday, October 28, 7:30 p.m.,
pay to park
Williams
•Master Class – Timothy Eddy, cello
Friday, October 7, 1 p.m., pay to park
November 2016
•Concert – Jazz Small Groups
•Convocation –
Performances by Lamont Faculty
Wednesday, November 2, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 7, 2:30 p.m.,
•Concert – Lamont Symphony
Gates Concert Hall, pay to park
Orchestra & Lamont Opera Theatre,
•Concert –
A Night at the Opera
Lamont Symphony Orchestra,
Thursday, November 3, 7:30 p.m.,
World Premiere Ode to Nature
free with ticket, $5 reserved ticket,
Tuesday, October 10 and 11,
Gates Concert Hall
7:30 p.m., Gates Concert Hall,
•Master Class – Matthew Coley,
$15 reserved ticket, $25 reserved
percussion
ticket, and $125 reserved VIP ticket
Friday, November 4, 1 p.m.,
• Concert – Lamont Wind Ensemble
Room 130, pay to park
Thanks To Recent UPCC Dues Payers!
The following residents paid voluntary UPCC dues in June and July 2016.
Marc & Kristin Able
Jane Queen, Accelerated Schools
Maureen & Michael Allen
Garry & Dale Appel
Larry & Sue Apple
Jenna Bechtholdt
Peggy Bender
Vern Berry & Jennifer Wood
Barbara Boucher
Betty Bruce
Denny & LuAnn Dahl
Greg & Helen Fulton
Bill & Cheryl Futera
Pam Gates
Jeff & Kristina Haskins
Doug & Jill Piatt Kemper
David & Karen Lausa
Andrea Montague
Margaret Nicholson
Matt & Elysabethe Olmstead
Derek & Erin Pimm
Jonathan & Leah Reed
Judith Logel & Robert Scott
Sean Spiegel
Leticia Gallagher & Michael Stretchberry
Elizabeth Temkin
Marni & Tim Welch
Steve & Tess Wieland
UPCC Voluntary Dues 2016
All residents of University Parks are members of the UPCC.
Voluntary dues are integral to the operation of the UPCC, neighborhood events
and publications. You are invited to pay your UPCC Voluntary Dues for 2016.
The suggested amount is $25 or $15 for seniors. Thank you!
Mail to: UPCC, 2100 S. Monroe St., Denver, CO 80210
Online: Use PayPal at www.upcc.us/support
•Concert – Lamont World Music
& Dance Ensemble
Friday, November 4, 7:30 p.m.
•Concert – Lamont Jazz Orchestra
with Frank Greene, trumpet
Monday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.,
Gates Concert Hall
•Concert –
Lamont String Chamber Ensembles
Monday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.
•Concert – Lamont Percussion
Ensemble with Matthew Coley
Tuesday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.,
Gates Concert Hall
•Guest Artist –
Andrés Cárdenes, violin with
Steven Mayer, piano & string faculty
Thursday, November 10,
7:30 p.m., $10
•Discussion and Q&A –
Andrés Cárdenes, violin
Friday, November 11, 1 p.m.,
pay to park
•Master Class –
Andrés Cárdenes, violin
Friday, November 11, 2 p.m.,
pay to park
•Jazz – Live from Lamont,
Abraham Burton, saxophone,
and Greg Gisbert, trumpet,
with jazz faculty rhythm section
Friday, November 11, 7:30 p.m.,
Williams
•Concert – Modern Hue Student
New Music Ensemble
Saturday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.
•Concert –
Lamont Composers Series Concert
Sunday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
•Concert –
Lamont Steel Drum Ensemble
Monday, November 14, 7:30 p.m.,
free with ticket, Gates Concert Hall
•Concert –
Lamont Chorale, Lamont Women’s
Chorus, Lamont Men’s Choir
Tuesday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.,
Gates Concert Hall
•Jazz Faculty Recital – Eric Gunnison,
piano and Mike Abbott, guitar
Tuesday, November 15, 7:30 p.m.
*For the winter lineup, go to
www.du.edu/lamont.
Newsletter Information
UPWords is published five times a
year and is funded by the University
Park Community Council. Please
submit story ideas to Liz Netzel,
editor, at [email protected].