by Mark Smiley | Mar 18, 2022 | Main Articles
Easter Won’t Fall Until Day After Full Moon On April 17
by Glen Richardson
Easter Sunday is uncommonly late this year, falling on April 17 for the first time in 62 years. The holiday will keep us waiting in 2022, but not because of disruptive supply chains, instead blame the moon.
Christian tradition sets the holiday on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox, the start of
April’s Full Moon: The first full moon of spring is Saturday, April 16. Known as the Paschal full moon, it is pushing Easter to the 17th for the first time in 62 years.
spring. This year, the first full moon of spring — the Paschal full moon, Christians call it — comes on Saturday, April 16, pushing Easter and Valley Sunrise Services to the 17th.
Just after the March 20 vernal equinox occurs, spring shifts into overdrive as flashy, flamboyant, and fe minine fashion flares into an Easter parade of runway shows. Floaty floral outfits and pretty dresses from quality labels that ooze romantic style, parade on the catwalk of Denver’s Ephemera Fashion West Runway Show at ReelWorks March 27, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. That’s followed by seven nights of Denver Fashion Week with 250 models, April 3-10. Forbes Magazine has proclaimed the Valley’s annual spring showcase, “One of the fastest growing American fashion platforms.”
Spring Fashion Parade
LoDo-based fashion designer Brooks Luby whose outfits are on parade in this year’s Ephemera show, tells the Chronicle, “Soft, free flowing garments in neutral and bright colors are in this year.” Making women feel special for spring and summer since 1974 — the designer-couturier with a studio at 1616 14th St. — Luby adds, “Natural fabrics that are easy to wear and breathe in the heat of summer make women feel confident while being comfortable and stylish.” Information: 303-573-3801.
Then April kicks off Denver Fashion Week with a series of runway shows bringing together designers, models, stylists, and show-goers. Unique to Denver and the Cherry Creek Valley, this year’s events are at the Forney Museum of Transportation on Brighton Blvd. and Void Studios on S. Bannock St. Produced by 303 Magazine — a Denver online lifestyle daily — the event opens by bringing back its kids’ fashion show on April 3 from 3-6 p.m. at Void
Easter Beauty: This linen sheath dress by LoDo-based fashion designer Brooks Luby is perfect for Easter. It is seasonless, has pockets, and can go day to date night.
Studios. Introducing the fashion world to kids ages 8-13, the event will showcase some of the Valley’s top kids’ boutiques.
Designs featured on the following days during the week-long fashion event include Streetwear, Wardrobe, Local Couture, National-International, and Sustainable. The week concludes by showing lifestyle clothing lines from outlets at Castle Rock April 10, 4-8 p.m. Two days later on April 12, the Spring Brass Ring Luncheon-Fashion Show is at the Hilton City Center beginning at 10 a.m. The Children’s Diabetes Foundation fundraising event features LA-based designer Lourdes Chavez who worked for famous fashion house Travilla before launching her own line in 2000. Information: 303-863-1200.
Easter Shopping
Cherry Creek North is known for its fashion boutiques and Adornments at 2826 E. 3rd Ave. is recognized for its unique and artistic fashions. Ladies credit longtime staffer and now owner Consuelo Diaz-Nasios as having a discerning eye for fashionable and flattering cloth
Shopping Season: Cherry Creek boutique Adornments on E. 3rd Ave. is known for its unique and artistic fashions. Spring womenswear by Igor Dobranic — designer behind the IGOR fashion brand — is among spring selections on display, at right.
es. Information: 303-321-7992.
Offering a distinctive assortment of top women’s designer and contemporary collections from all over the world, MAX Clothing at 250 Columbine is considered one of the district’s style leaders. Information: 303-321-4949.
One of the Valley’s most iconic men’s and women’s specialty stores is Lawrence Covell established in 1967. Located at 225 Steele St., many fashion brands make their Colorado and, in some cases, national debut here. Whether you’re looking for preppy, eclectic, Bohemian, sexy, conservative, classic, or hipster they offer something special and different. Information: 303-320-1023.
Red Rock’s 75th Easter
Following a virtual service last year, the 75th Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre — the most renowned sunrise service in the nation — will rise again as an in-person gathering on April 17. Gates open for the non-denominational service at 4:30 a.m., music begins an hour later, followed by worship service at 6 a.m.
Rockin’ Red Rocks Easter: Following a virtual service last year, the 75th Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre will rise again as an in-person gathering on April 17. Gates open at 4:30 a.m., worship service begins at 6 a.m.
As the sun begins to rise above the naturally occurring geological phenomenon — this year at 6:19 a.m. — a capacity crowd is expected. The Colorado Council of Churches will again produce magnificent music and a stunning sermon that changes the jaw-dropping sunrise into a performance not to be missed.
The Rev. Dr. John Yu, lead pastor of Aurora’s True Light Community Church, will deliver this year’s gospel message in the dramatic setting. He is the 2022 president of the Pastors’ Assn. of Korean
Churches in Denver and serves on the National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches. Information: 303-825-4910.
The Valley’s other major Sunrise Service is the Western States Easter Observance at the Denver Scottish Rite Masonic Consistory, 1370 Grant St., 6-9 a.m. Seating 500, the Consistory is a unique worship experience. Moreover, attendees can enjoy a hot breakfast in the Consistory’s dining room following the worship service. Information: 303-861-4261.
Scrambling For Eggs
Glendale Sport Center’s Easter Egg-stravaganza is at Infinity Park’s turf field April 9, 10 a.m. Bring your camera and Easter Basket for the free event that has three prize eggs with special surprises. Event features three age groups — ages 0-3, ages 4-6, and 7-13, all startin
Catwalk Glam: Flashy, flamboyant and feminine fashion flares into an Easter parade of runway shows this month. Photo is from Glam Night during a prior Denver Fashion Week. The seven nights of glamour with 250 models is April 3-10.
g at the same time. Information: 303-639-4711.
Stapleton’s annual Egg Scramble is April 9 at Runway 35, 10-11:30 a.m. Children ages 0-5 start at 10:05 a.m. with one parent allowed per child. The next wave is at 10:20 a.m. for ages 6 and older (parents not allowed). Event has an Easter bunny, food trucks, a magician, a balloon artist, and a face painter.
Cook Park Recreation Center hosts a Bunny Eggstravaganza on April 16 at the park on Cherry Creek S. Dr. from 10:20-10:50 a.m. Take pictures, play games, and go on an Easter egg hunt. Information: 720-865-3400.
by Mark Smiley | Mar 18, 2022 | Main Articles
Audit Of City Council Operations Muzzled By Gilmore, Torres; Council Strips Auditor’s Subpoena Power After Suit To Force Audit
by Glen Richardson
Watchdog O’Brien: Pending audit of City Council operations has been halted by Auditor Tim O’Brien, CPA, because leadership refuses to comply with required audit standards.
Efforts by Denver’s top watchdog — City Auditor Timothy O’Brien, CPA — to begin a pending audit of city council operations stalled because the leadership refused to allow his office to comply with required audit standards. The audit had been planned for more than a year after some of the council members requested the audit. As the Chronicle went to press O’Brien sued City Council to force an audit and as a result Council members voted to repeal the existing subpoena power ordinance (see sidebar article on page 4).
O’Brien insists that interviews with council staff members be conducted without their bosses nosing in. Each city council member receives $264,000 to pay the salary of staff and to operate their office. Council President Stacie Gilmore and President Pro Tem Jamie Torres, however, refuse to allow staff interviews without a senior staff member or an attorney present. Gilmore says they will work with the Auditor’s Office to “resolve the issue in the next year.”
That’s apparently how long the duo and newly appointed City Council Executive Director Bonita Roznoa think it will take to correct or cover-up problems O’Brien and his staff might uncover. Appointed in January, she fills the revolving door position that has been vacant since Aug. 2020 when her predecessor was fired after less than a year in the position. The position oversees the six legislative service staff, helps with budgeting, plus other personnel functions. She was council operations manager for Sacramento, Calif.
Menacing Bosses
President Pro Tem Torres refuses to allow City Auditor to interview staff without a senior staff member or an attorney present.
Council President Gilmore
“Council leadership won’t allow their own staff to have open and honest conversations with my audit team,” Auditor O’Brien explains. “This intimidating behavior throws a wet blanket on our audit work.”
Consider, as an example, a council boss or lawyer interrupting an interview with, “what he or she meant to say…” — just as the audit team was questioning something suspicious or agenda squabbling. What a nerve-wracking weight it would have on a staffer that was about to become a whistleblower.
“My authority as auditor comes from the people,” Auditor O’Brien continues. “The people voted to update the charter and require that we follow Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards. This requirement is not subject to change by the City Council.” He adds that conducting unrestricted interviews with staff is a standard step in performance auditing.
Out Of Sync Values
Wage Recovery: The labor division of Denver Auditor’s Office has recovered more than $3.7 million in unpaid wages in the last six years.
In an era of increasing public scrutiny of city services and integrity, performance
auditing provides critical information needed for accountability. There are currently city auditors in 116 major cities in the U.S. and Canada.
O’Brien says that while other city agencies have made similar requests, his office is typically able to explain why having a staffer present during interviews is not appropriate and persuade the agency to agree. “I hope they talk it over and change their minds,” he concludes. “I can’t conduct the audit under their standards. That doesn’t make sense.”
Local citizens the Chronicle talked to agree: “They’re out of sync with the core values of Denver. Those in elected positions should be truthful, frank, and candid. That’s what we expect of them plus it’s part of their job. It’s also why voters elected them.” A few added they fear this kind of cageyness would lead to increased public mistrust of Denver’s city government.
Subpoena Power Stalled
The City Council’s Finance & Governance Committee directed by Chair Kendra Black and Vice Chair Robin Kniech has likewise rejected — at least temporally — Auditor O’Brien’s request for subpoena power. They halted forwarding the proposal to the full city council for approval but agreed to reconsider on April 20.
O’Brien is seeking the subpoena power to speed up audits of outside groups that receive money from the city — the Denver Zoo and Denver Art Museum are examples — plus private companies accused of violating minimum-wage laws. O’Brien says delaying those audits costs the city about $10,000 per week.
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Colorado Competitive Council oppose the measure. The business groups say the 21-day response time the bill allows them is too short. They’ve also expressed concerns about city government demanding payroll records from businesses. The council committees want O’Brien to meet with the groups to discuss their concerns before allowing the proposal to move forward.
Chat Changer
Subpoena Brownout: Finance & Governance Chair Kendra Black has at least temporarily refused to forward Auditor’s request for subpoena power to the full city council for approval.
Councilman Jolon Clark said he was worried information gathered through subpoenas might be leaked to the public by an audit. O’Brien, however, noted that when investigating wage complaints, none of the information has made it into the hands of the general public. Moreover, he adds that almost all companies accused by credible wage-enforcement complaints cooperate with the city.
Furthermore, O’Brien says that the new authority his office would get will assure that minimum wage and city contract cases he gets but is unable to resolve could come to a conclusion. “I think subpoena power changes the conversation,” O’Brien conveyed to the committee. “It puts the burden on the agency or the contractor.”
District 10 Councilman Chris Hinds — he represents Cherry Creek, Cap Hill, Cheesman Park, Country Club, the Golden Triangle, and Speer — says he likes the bill. But he adds, because O’Brien didn’t initially meet with business owners representing the trio of groups, “I too would be willing to keep this in committee.” Elected in a 2019 runoff, he will be up for reelection in 2023.
Digging Into Deals
The potential audit setbacks, however, aren’t slowing down the forceful O’Brien. He’s swinging big with nearly a dozen 2022 city audits. He is taking on some of Denver’s most pressing issues: How the city is managing homeless camps, residential permitting, and affordable housing.
He’s also diving into campaign finance, Denver Human Services’ child welfare placement system, plus the city’s recycling and composting programs. His agenda also includes audits of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Denver Water.
“Our residents are letting us know what’s most important to them, and I applaud the widespread interest in our city’s key issues,” O’Brien states. “We take the time needed to do our due diligence and fact-checking, while adhering to generally accepted government auditing standards as required by the city charter. This is how the public knows our work is of the highest quality and can be trusted.”
Subpoena Brownout: Finance & Governance Chair Kendra Black has at least temporarily refused to forward Auditor’s request for subpoena power to the full city council for approval.
Auditor Sues To Force Audit; Council Retaliates By Stripping Subpoena Power
Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien filed a lawsuit to rectify the damage caused by the Denver City Council’s ordinance amendment that improperly restricts independent audit work. The City Council quickly retaliated by repealing the existing subpoena power ordinance and thus preventing an audit.
The City Council voted 11 to 1 to revoke the subpoena powers, with the lone “no” vote by Councilwoman Candi CdeBada. Acknowledging the Council chose to repeal the existing ordinance, O’Brien told the Chronicle in mid-March: “We are aware of plans in the weeks ahead to discuss restoring the subpoena power to our wage investigation work. I hope to work with council to find a solution that works for everyone.”
As for the Audit Services Division he adds: “As I have said previously, we already have the right to all records we need without restrictions, according to the Denver Charter and contract audit clauses. However, without the subpoena power to speed the process up, we will have to go back to working as we were before.”
by Mark Smiley | Mar 18, 2022 | Travel
by Mark Smiley
Spa: The spa features Hydrotherapy in an area that resembles a cenote. The one-hour treatment features a sauna, steam room, and jetted pools to relax in.
Paradise: Dreams Natura Resort & Spa is a 553-room resort and a short 10-mile drive from the Cancun International Airport.
Dreams Natura Resort & Spa is a new resort which had the unfortunate timing of scheduling to open just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. After being closed for months, and then shifting to limited capacity, the resort is open to tourists at full capacity.
Dreams Natura, part of the AMR Collection, which also owns Secrets and Breathless Resorts, is located in Puerto Morelos, a 20-minute ride from the Cancun Airport. The resort prides itself on great service, beautiful landscaping, views, and activities throughout the day and night keeping the entire family engaged. “This resort has some of the best staff I have ever encountered at a resort,” said one guest. “They really enhance the experience by going above and beyond and always being friendly and accommodating.”
The 553 rooms are spacious and come stocked with free minibars, TVs with satellite channels, whirlpool tubs, and furnished terraces. Expect lots of open-air spaces, and a wristband-free all-inclusive program with good food and several places to eat or grab a drink without reservations. “Staying At Dreams Natura was so fun!,” said 10-year-old Ellie Smiley (this author’s daughter). “My favorite part of Dreams Natura was probably the activities and food. The days I was there I really enjoyed. They have such nice workers and the resort itself is so nice, I would definitely recommend.”
Infinity Pool: The main pool is where most of the action happens during the day. The entertainment team orchestrates activities and staff is on hand to keep the drinks flowing.
While the resort offers a beautiful place to have a wedding, relaxation with the family at their infinity pool, time on the beach, three water slides, or the on-property roll glider, the crown jewel of this resort is the spa. “The spa area is so nice and I loved how they designed it to be like a cenote,” said another guest. “The hydrotherapy circuit was such a special treat and I would highly recommend adding this to your treatments.”
The hydrotherapy experience begins with the sauna, moves to the vapor steam room, and then to the pools, the first of which has jets to relax the body, and then the last two being the hot tub and a colder pool to soak in. The entire treatment lasts one hour and leaves the guest refreshed and ready for the rest of the day.
While visiting the Riviera Maya, consider a catamaran sailing trip to Isla Mujeres. Cancun Sailing offers four different packages to choose from, all of which include a friendly staff that guides you through the process which may include snorkeling, shopping, drinks on board, and lunch. Cancun Sailing is one of the only companies, now 13 years old, to include docking fees in the price paid up front. They also have packages that include transportation from Dreams Natura. Visit www.cancun sailing.com for more information.
Southwest, Frontier, and United Airlines offer nonstop service from Denver International Airport to Cancun International Airport which takes less than four hours. With an additional 20-minute ride from the airport, it makes the travel a breeze. Once you are greeted at Dreams Natura resort with a cold beverage and towel and walk through the immaculate grounds, you are on vacation and have entered your home away from home.
For more information, visit www.amrcollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/dreams/mexico/natura-resort-spa, follow them on twitter @DreamsResorts or on Facebook at @DreamsNaturaResort.
