Mayor Re-Elected: Mike Dunafon was re-elected as the Mayor of Glendale for a third term on April 7, 2020.
On April 7, 2020, Glendale held its municipal election. Glendale Mayor Michael Dunafon and four incumbent Councilmembers, Storm Gloor, Rachel Binkley, Ryan Tuchscherer and Lindsey Mintz were unopposed, and the only item was the approval of a City Charter change allowing the City Manager to live 10 miles from Glendale rather than five miles. The mayor and incumbent councilmembers did not apparently take their re-election for granted. Each one gathered hundreds of signatures to get on the ballot. With only the Charter change to consider and with the election in the middle of the pandemic there were only 16 citizens casting votes with the Charter change being approved 14 to 2.
Dan Himelspach is running for a seat in Colorado House District 6, and he could have never predicted the circumstances he would be facing when he was one of the first to launch his campaign for the primary set for June 30, 2020. COVID-19 has impacted the plan to reach voters but that is not stopping Himelspach. “What we’ve tried not to do is whine and cry in our beer,” said Himelspach. “How can we still accomplish our goal? Those that do the best can adjust to it and live in the new world we are in.”
Creative Campaigning: Dan Himelspach is running for State House District 6 in Denver and has had to alter the way he gets his message out to voters. He hosted a Zoom Town Hall with officials from Rose Medical Center on April 1, 2020.
One of the things Himelspach did was organize a Town Hall via Zoom with Denver City Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer that invited the community to learn more about Rose Hospital during this pandemic. Joining Himelspach and Sawyer was Ryan Tobin, President & CEO at Rose Medical Center and Andrew Weinfeld, MD, Chief Medical Officer.
“Rose [Hospital] is such an important part of this community and I wanted them to toot their horn,” said Himelspach. “I want them [Rose Hospital] to succeed but I also want everyone in the district and neighborhood to know what they truly have to offer. They’re a phenomenal organization that’s been here for a long time. The community, to a large extent, grew up around them. They are one of the major anchors in this community.”
Himelspach is one of those community members who has been around a long time. He is a Denver-based Colorado business leader and practicing attorney with over 30 years of experience specializing in mediation and negotiation. Living in House District 6 for over 40 years, Himelspach has formed several successful businesses including a family-owned business that sells high tech products to brain researchers all over the world. Not a professional politician hoping to climb the political ladder, Himelspach is running for office in the spirit of servant leadership with a hope to bring his unique mixture of negotiation and business skills to Colorado’s legislature.
Himelspach hopes to be one of the elected leaders to help Denver get through the pandemic. “Leadership is going to make a difference,” said Himelspach. “Strong leadership will go a long way.” Dan also has respect for people and this country. “People really by and large want to do the right thing,” said Himelspach. “This country is a strong country and we have a lot of resources compared to other countries around the world. We’re going to be fine and the individual spirit is strong here but it’s going to be a struggle for two or three years I think.”
Healthcare Workers?: The pictures of two persons blocking the “Operation Gridlock” protestors became international news. They identified themselves as Covid-19 nurses at a local Denver hospital. Others have claimed they were allegedly workers at a strip club in Adams County.
Balancing Act: Governor Polis has a difficult job trying to balance safety from the Covid-19 virus with the economic well-being of the state. He has been giving regular press conferences on the Covid-19 pandemic in Colorado, from the Governor’s Mansion.
Commercial and social life is slowly opening up in the Cherry Creek Valley from downtown Denver to the dam. Governor Polis issued his stay at home order on March 26, 2020, which was largely obeyed, but on Sunday, April 19, 2020, a large rally attended by over 1,000 people protested the restriction at a rally at the State Capitol titled “Operation Gridlock.”
The next day Governor Polis declared that stay at home order would not continue past its revised ending date of April 26. Curbside delivery for retail could also open that day and other retail on May 1. Large businesses would be allowed to open May 4 at 50 percent capacity while restaurant, bars and clubs are anticipated to open mid-May with various restrictions.
Restaurants in the Cherry Creek Valley worry that the restrictions may be so onerous that they cannot make a profit, thus making it unwise to hire back workers until they understand what the regulations entail. David Peterson, owner of the Bull & Bush Brewery on Cherry Creek Drive South, stated that he does not expect restaurants to return to pre-pandemic revenue levels for at least a year, if then.
Normal Or Bygone Era?: It is not clear whether what was once a normal scene prior to the Covid-19 pandemic will ever return totally.
Jeff Allen, COO of the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce noted: “The problem is that the restrictions/regulations will be made by those who do not own and operate the businesses. Alternatively, those businesses with political connections will influence the decisions to benefit themselves and hinder their competitors.” Others fear once the most draconian restrictions are lifted, businesses will play fast and loose with the remaining constrictions and risk the re-spreading of the COVID-19 virus.
Nurse Or Stripper?
In a presidential election year, virtually any controversy quickly becomes political, and the COVID -19 Pandemic is no exception. At the aforementioned Operation Gridlock protest held on April 19, a man and a woman dressed in nurses’ scrubs blocked a crosswalk at 12th and Grant Street where protestors were trying to drive through. A freelance photographer took pictures that some people claimed were staged. The photographer, Alyson McCaren, denied the allegation by controversial Channel 9 anchor Kyle Clark whose reporting is generally viewed by some with great suspicion. The pictures went around the world and the two nurses/physician assistants were lionized in much of the world press.
Another Clark Hoax?: Controversial 9News Anchor Kyle Clark has been accused by some of possibly being part of a hoax to portray the counter protestors at the Capitol as healthcare workers.
The counter-protestors told a Westword representative that the two of them worked at a Denver hospital with COVID-19 patients. They indicated that they wanted the Operation Gridlock protestors to know that they were the ones on the front line fighting the pandemic. The man has been identified allegedly as a disc jockey at a strip club in Adams County, Colorado, and the female purportedly is his girlfriend and a stripper at that club as well as in Denver. The pair has also been purportedly involved in harassing recall Polis petitioners.
Regardless of who people were or were not, the political parties have lined up on either side of the debate. Democrats have stressed public safety and minimizing the spread of the virus with less regard to the immediate economic impact. Republicans have noted that severe economic impacts also have their health risks including increase in drug and alcohol abuse as well as spikes in suicide rates. It is unlikely either side will convince the other to see it their way.
Rally At Capitol: Over 1,000 protestors showed up at the Capitol on Sunday, April 19, 2020, to protest the strict economic lockdown by Governor Polis. The following day, the Governor announced a gradual lifting of the economic lockdown.
Long Term
The long-term questions are whether COVID-19 will return stronger than ever this fall without a vaccine being developed and what are the permanent economic consequences of suddenly shutting down a once booming economy. No one has an answer to those questions on which the lives and livelihoods of so many will depend.
(BPT) – The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours, and budding trees and flowers are early signs that warmer weather and spring are on the way. That means more time outside to enjoy nature, but it’s also a sign it might be time for a little spring cleaning.
“Cold temperatures, snowfall and winter rains can have a big effect on houses and landscaping, so now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of belongings you no longer want or need – it’s also a time to get your home in tip-top shape so you can enjoy it throughout the rest of the year.”
Here are four tips O’Rourke recommends to welcome the new season and save some money down the road.
Clean your gutters.
Gutters collect debris over time, especially when rain, snow and wind causes twigs, pine needles and leaves to settle on your roof and in your rain gutters. Accumulated debris can create blockages that direct water into the home or, in areas without much precipitation, can act as kindling in the event of a fire. Buildup also allows mildew and mold to develop, which can slowly decay a home’s exterior and roof.
“Preventable damage like mold or mildew that develops and rots a home’s exterior isn’t covered by homeowners insurance,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to routinely clean out gutters – even if you have gutter guards installed, they don’t completely protect against debris building up eventually. An hour or two spent cleaning or checking your gutters is time well spent compared to the alternative.”
Trim branches and remove dangerous trees.
Thunderstorm frequency picks up in summer months, and high winds can occur year round, so it’s best to get a jump on tree maintenance in early spring. Regularly trimming tree branches reduces their chance of breaking during a storm, which could cause power outages or property damage.
“Properly trimmed branches present a lower risk of falling onto your home, power lines or possibly injuring someone on your property,” said O’Rourke. “Also, in areas that are prone to wildfires, trimmed trees create a buffer zone to help lower the chances of flames easily jumping onto your roof.”
Consider having the trees on your property inspected by an arborist to determine their health and have diseased trees removed before they topple over unexpectedly. Removal costs vary depending on height and difficulty, but range from $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs are not covered by your homeowners policy, but can be a wise investment that saves you time, money and anxiety.
Watch out for service lines.
Homeowners who want to plant gardens, trees or install additional landscape features to enhance their outdoor living space should be aware of potential underground utility lines. Most service lines – a network of exterior, underground utility lines or pipes that supply a home with electricity, gas, water and sewer functions – are only buried a few inches beneath the ground. Accidentally hitting one when digging can result in loss of service, expensive repairs or a serious injury.
If a break to a service line happens on a homeowner’s property, special machinery may be needed to excavate pipes from beneath the ground, which may require digging under your home, garden or driveway. The homeowner is responsible for repair or replacement costs, and this damage can be inconvenient, expensive and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy.
“The average cost to repair a break to a service line is about $5,000 and most Americans wouldn’t welcome such a large surprise bill,” said O’Rourke. “Homeowners should definitely consider purchasing an endorsement to their insurance policy to protect against losses of this nature. Mercury offers this coverage as an addition to our home insurance policy and it costs as little as $8 a year, depending on the home’s age.”
To be safe, homeowners should call 811 before digging so the utility companies can send a locator to mark the approximate locations of underground service lines.
Service your air conditioning unit.
Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is essential to ensure the equipment is in proper working order, which can save money on energy bills, as well as protect against expensive repair and replacement costs.
“No one wants to unexpectedly find themselves living in a sauna during the dog days of summer, so the start of spring is a great time to have your air conditioner inspected,” said O’Rourke. “You should also change your air filter to make sure it’s operating at its highest efficiency, so when that heat wave hits you’ll be nice and cool inside your home.”
Have a professional inspect your HVAC unit to make sure its exterior condenser coil and compressor are clean and free from blockages – the average cost for an inspection is about $300.
Your home will bring you security and joy for many years to come. Taking the time to maintain it is well worth the investment.
(BPT) – It could be due to a car accident. It might be attributed to an injury at work. It might be the result of a simple fall. Traumatic brain injury can happen to anyone of any age, and it’s probably more common than you think.
March is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) awareness month.
What is traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
A TBI is often caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Severity of TBI can be mild and temporary or severe and life altering. In the worst cases, a person can die from a TBI.
The number of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths has increased by 53% and an average of 155 people in the U.S. die every day from injuries that include a TBI, according to CDC data from 2006-2014. There is an estimated $80 billion in lifetime costs within the U.S. alone related to TBI.
“People who experience and survive a TBI often suffer from numerous other health conditions as a result, including headaches, memory loss, anxiety and depression, sleep deprivation, epilepsy and even alcohol or drug abuse,” said Dr. Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Professor of Neurology and Director of Clinical TBI Research at the University of Pennsylvania. “Concussions in sports have helped bring the frequency of TBIs to light, but there’s still so much work to do because everyone is impacted by this condition either directly or indirectly.”
Who is impacted most by TBIs?
Research shows TBI disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. For example, recent peer reviewed research shows that 53% of homeless people have suffered from TBI, according to health journal “The Lancet Public Health.” Additionally, more than 65% of prisoners and 75% of women experiencing domestic violence have suffered from TBI, according to the “Journal of Neurotrauma.”
People in the military are more susceptible to TBI. Concussions have been capturing headlines for athletes, who also are at high risk of experiencing a TBI. It’s a leading cause of disability and death in children. When someone experiences this type of injury, their life can be forever altered. It also impacts their family as well as society as a whole, as some cannot continue to work, care for a home or even properly care for themselves without assistance.
The need for research and new treatments
“To better address this public health issue, we must create a national registry that will provide critical information to help move forward the medical treatment of individuals with TBI so we can improve their care and research new treatments,” said Dr. Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner, President Elect, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
She is joined by leading TBI organizations like the Brain Injury Association of America and the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force to call for action from The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create this type of national registry. The current system is decentralized and relies on states and regions to construct their own registries, leaving millions of people without resources to manage their TBI. The goal is to develop a single, standardized level of care for individuals living with TBI nationwide.
A comprehensive registry would also facilitate more clinical trials, which could advance the treatment of people with TBI. One treatment showing promising initial results is a regenerative cell medicine (SB623) composed of stem cells that are implanted around the injured area. Focused on improving chronic motor deficiency, the Phase II data last year reported the effectiveness of the treatment that may regenerate brain cells following a TBI.
To learn more about TBI visit www.cdc.gov. To learn about research and efforts being made to advance a national registry, visit www.biausa.org.
