Goodbye, November. Hello, December. How did this month get here so soon? As Dr. Seuss stated, “It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June.” This month feels like both a beginning and an ending. It’s all the rushing, preparation and celebrating as we try to slow down right in the middle of a near year-long pandemic.
December is Denver’s coldest month. That mean the thermometer may drop below 0 °F on a few nights. Still we are nearer to spring than we were in September.
Here are our silver bells ringing and sugar plums dancing choices for shopping, dining and entertainment to prepare you for the merriment and bah humbug-ness ahead:
3 With jaunty jingles and titillating tales, the world premiere of Winterland at Wonderbound Studios is your antidote to the winter blues. Sunflower Bank is sponsor of the cabaret, Dec. 2-18. Information: 303-292-4700.
3 Take the family to Zoo Lights 30th Anniversary with more than a million lights aglow at the Denver Zoo, Dec. 4-31. Information: 720-990-5105.
3 View Begin Again, new artwork to inspire healing, hope and wonder on display at Walker Fine Art through Jan. 9. Information: 303-355-8955.
3 Book a time, dress in your holiday best for family photos at Lowry’s Eisenhower Chapel Dec. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 303-344-0481.
3 Make the holidays special with pastries, artisan breads, quiche and sandwiches from French bakery Detour on South Holly St. Tue.-Sat., 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Helpful staff to help you stock up. Information: 303-756-2020.
3 Spruce up for the holidays with décor fabrics from Boris’s Upholstery. Select from over 300 rolls of fabrics in-stock. One-stop home upholstery, custom cushions and decorative pillows. Information: 303-751-2921.
3 See Stories On Stage as it performs Making Merry live streamed from the Nomad Theatre in Boulder Dec. 13, 7-8 p.m. Information: 303-494-0523.
3 Catch Other People’s Pets, the Novel by R. L. Maizes during Dec. 17 virtual JAAMM Fest, 7 p.m. Information: JCCDenver.org/JAAMM.
3 Faced with this year’s historic challenges, take the family to December Delights at Four Mile Historic Park, Dec. 4-27. Outdoor winter spectacular features installations, ice skating, kids’ activities and a scavenger hunt. Event has snacks and a full bar. Open Friday through Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. the stunning space is designed to transform endings into new beginnings. Information: 720-865-0800.
Do You Hear What I Hear? AAAaaALViiiNN! Whether it’s the Chipmunk song or Jingle Bells, holiday songs are inescapable this time of year. They’re on your car radio, in department stores and your dentist’s waiting room. Even Up on the Housetop, click, click, the DINGing and DONGing and RING-A-LINGing dance in your ear drums.
Even if holiday songs don’t top our list, we still remember the words to Deck The Halls, FA LA FA LA! After all, it’s the time of year to “be jolly and don gay apparel!
Although December is filled with love and positivity, let’s face it: this month can leave you feeling pretty cold. So go ahead and cozy up to all those holiday songs and their December-themed lyrics — enjoy them while you can, it’ll be 2021 before you know it! Wishing you and your family health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
by Teresa Kutt, VP of Marketing and Communications, YMCA of Metro Denver
2020 has been a tough year for everyone. And it’s not over yet. Our country was fraught with a pandemic, and we also experienced our share of political and societal unrest. Despite these challenges, there are still many reasons to be thankful.
Close up of gratitude word with pen on notebook
This list is not meant to minimize the harsh reality of 2020. Many people have lost loved ones. Jobs. People are struggling financially and emotionally. But today, we’d like to shine a light on the positives in the Denver community and all around us.
1. People helping people
Often, helping others can be a good way to get our minds off our own worries. Since the pandemic hit in March, there have been countless stories about how people in the Denver community have been helping others since then.
Too numerous to list, support ranges from monetary help to giving of one’s own time. Thankfully, key organizations in the community, including the Food Bank of the Rockies, Mile High United Way and the YMCA of Metro Denver, just to name a few, have been helping to those in need to stay connected, healthy and to keep their bellies full.
2. Furry friends find new homes
The demand for new furry friends across the state, as well as nationally, has skyrocketed. With an increasing number of people spending more time at home, many individuals and families decided the time was right to expand their families; many cats and dogs have now been placed in their fur-ever homes throughout Colorado.
3. Creativity blossomed
Creativity experienced a resurgence during self-isolation.
Artwork: New murals popped up throughout the Denver community. Inspiring works of art were created to bolster positivity, as well as to acknowledge and support healthcare workers and others on the frontlines of the pandemic.
Sewing: Many people dusted off their sewing machines and brushed up on their stitching skills to make masks for essential employees, as well as family members and friends.
Cooking: Cooking and baking also gained popularity in households across the country. Not only does trying out a new recipe provide entertainment, it also provides comfort and sustenance.
Virtual Connection: It wasn’t only schools that went virtual; many musicians, artists and museums opened their performances, shows and collections virtually, allowing individuals, families and students to explore new places and things from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
4. Family Time
For families regularly caught up in the rat race, 2020 has presented them with more time at home to connect, to spend time together and to enjoy each other. Many families in the Denver community report an increased sense of connection and communication among each other since the pandemic began.
Is there something you’re particularly grateful for? Please share it with us!
To learn more about health and fitness programs at the YMCA of Metro Denver, visit https://www.denverymca.org/.
Cory Gardner — Rumor has it, this is straight out of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, this sock puppet is thinking about running for governor. For God’s sake, stop now.
Ken Buck — As they said in the Marlon Brando classic, On The Waterfront, a one way ticket to Palookaville, for being the only state in the country that the blue wave actually hit. Good job State GOP.
Lauren Boebert — Who has emerged as the face of the real Republican Party. Went up to Mount Rushmore, met Donald Trump, showed up at a fundraiser I went to this summer packing a gun. You go, girl. In my world you are the face of the Colorado Republican Party. But they will cut her throat just like they did Tom Tancredo’s.
Jared Polis — What do you give a man who has everything and has a lock on a second term if those GOP idiots really do run Cory Gardner. Let’s find another Coors brother, Walker Stapleton, Bob Beauprez, Bruce Benson, or some other stooge that would never be seen wearing a Trump hat. Good luck.
Michael Bennet — Will he and John be roomies? Hope you’re not challenged by Lauren Boebert. But see what we’ve said about the Republican Party. Don’t worry dude, you’re safe.
John Hickenlooper — Thank his lucky stars that hard hitting Cory Gardner never put up any resistance to defeat the weak sister of the Democrat Party himself. Dude, you caught a break. Welcome to the U.S. Senate.
Tay Anderson — How in the world do you think all of the antics that you’ve pulled in the streets of Denver have anything to do with educating the children and grandchildren of Denver? The spotlight is not the place for an educator, but I repeat myself.
Kyle Clark — Are you and the missus going to be cooking the Christmas goose for the armed security guards who protect you from the dumpster burning, dangerous Trump supporters? Man, that’s laughable.
Susan Cordova — the just resigned Superintendent of Denver Public Schools. One-way ticket to Dallas. Have a nice day.
Colorado Republican Party in general — In the words of Joseph Welch to Joe McCarthy during the McCarthy hearings, “At long last, have you no shame?” What this Party needs is a major infusion of testosterone, growth hormone and gunpowder.
Patrick Neville — One of the hopes of the Colorado Republican Party. But don’t worry folks they will shipwreck him as soon as they can.
Ted Trimpa — Aka the Sword of Soros. Great year, my friend. Thank you, all the best.
Your Denver Broncos — The team that continues to buy Harvey Steinberg new cars.
John Bandimere — A great man who had a very hard year. He deserves our Merry Christmas.
Your Local Health Departments — It is amazing how we place tremendous power in the hands of so few and in the words of Winston Churchill, never have so many been screwed by so few.
Candi CdeBaca — Is she Denver’s future? Does Denver have a future? And truly how can it be worse than Michael Hancock?
Michael Hancock — Now that you’ve screwed up the mayor’s job for everyone else… Congratulations.
CDOT – RTD Combo — Seriously how do you screw up everything you touch?
Mayor of Glendale, Mike Dunafon — Job well done. Ever think about running for governor?
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen — That junior G-man kit. The gift of the truth that someday you’ll tell people where you were hiding the day Antifa thugs beat people up in Civic Center Park. Shame, shame, we know your name.
Brother Jeff — For years and years of appearing on the radio station with me and pissing off the Mile High City, you da man.
Beth McCann — For you and the mister, a can of fire starter. Let’s see if this guy ever does a day.
Elite competitors will have a new avenue to showcase their athletic talent. Taking place November 17 through 21, Glendale is hosting an invitation-only crossover camp that is designed to attract top athletes from non-rugby sports and teach them how to play rugby. The brainchild of Glendale’s Director of Rugby and Manager Mark Bullock, the crossover camp will focus on recruiting American athletes who could become star rugby players.
Photo by Justin Purdy
“The majority of elite athletes in the USA were playing university sports and then would go on to the NFL, NBA, NHL, or the Olympics for track and field, wrestling etc., if good enough,” Bullock explains. “The thought was, why not recruit those elite athletes to rugby once they have completed their university eligibility and/or were cut from professional teams.”
According to Bullock, other rugby teams are at the top of the world rankings because they have elite athletes playing for them. Conversely, the USA has done poorly in the Rugby World Cup over the years because the competitors have been good rugby players but not top athletes. He adds, “We want to change the equation. In the past, our top USA Men’s National Team players have all come from other sports.” By effectively converting elite athletes (who have previously been in scholarship university sports programs) into rugby players, Bullock hopes to mold them into World Cup-worthy competitors.
New Method Of Recruitment
For those unfamiliar with the rugby world, and to use pop culture as an example, the notion of an athlete crossing over from one sport to the other has historically gone well. In The Cutting Edge, a college hockey star trains hard and becomes a gold medal-winning Olympic figure skater and, in Cool Runnings, track runners work hard and become a competitive bobsled team. But in real life, some might question whether or not a former track star, or former hockey, basketball, or baseball player can turn into a competitive rugby player. Based on the trial camp Bullock ran in 2018, he is confident it will work.
“We trained for a week and then played in the Aspen Ruggerfest where we lost our first two matches but improved each game,” he remembers. “The last two matches we won quite readily as the players got better acquainted with the game, and how it is played, demonstrating that we can make the transition. Now our goal is to transition the players into a professional team to ultimately compete in a foreign competition and develop players for the USA National Team.”
In preparation for the crossover camp, Bullock and his staff created a database comprised of approximately 3,000 athletes from collegiate football, basketball, wrestling, track and field, along with players from the NFL, XFL, CFL, and other sports. Additionally, similar to Cool Runnings, Bullock and his staff have worked with the USA bobsled program and learned about how they recruited crossover athletes for their program. By researching university athletic program websites, coach contacts, NFL websites, and team sites, they were able to accumulate a comprehensive list of athletes and then watched video, spoke to coaches, and found methods to contact the players who fit their criteria.
Photo by Seth McConnell
Intriguing Sport
When asked whether these athletes are excited about rugby or if they know anything about the sport coming into the camp, Bullock says that so far, he has seen a mix. He explains, “Some have played, some have seen the sport, and others have just heard of it. One example is a wrestler, who recently graduated from Stanford, told us he was intrigued by the sport and really liked the ‘pile of guys in the middle,’ referring to a scrum. And he wanted to be right in the middle of it.”
Another example comes straight from the Glendale coaching staff. Defense Coach and Director of Amateur Rugby Luke Gross was a Division One basketball player on scholarship at Marshall University and was randomly asked to play rugby while he was a graduate student. He accepted the offer and within a year he was on the USA National Team, earned a contract to play professionally in Europe, and ultimately played 12 years as a professional rugby player in England, Wales, and Italy.
Talent Goes A Long Way
Overall, Bullock’s goal for the crossover camp is to offer players professional contracts following the camp, and for these players to develop to the point where they are able to represent the USA and make the team a contender at the Rugby World Cup. He says he expects a minimum of 40 athletes to attend the camp and contract offers will depend on performance during the camp.
“This is an experiment and we have a hypothesis that we can convert crossover elite athletes to become a high-performing rugby team,” Bullock explains. “Not all hypotheses work out 100 percent but we will adjust and learn along the way, just as the athletes we will be introducing to the game will learn.”
