The legacy of General Maurice Rose has been
forever etched into the walls of Rose Medical Center. Aside from renaming the
hospital after the WWII 3rd Armored Division commander 70 years ago, a new
museum tucked into the lobby now boasts a stone fixture to signify the
namesake’s dedication by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Marshall Fogel, author of Major General
Maurice Rose, compared the relationship between Rose and Eisenhower to two
other notable figures in American history.
“Grant was to Lincoln what Rose was to
Eisenhower,” said Fogel of the former generals and U.S. presidents at Rose
Medical Center’s 70th anniversary celebration in November.
Fogel was invited to speak at the
commemoration and helped unveil “one of the most iconic paintings in WWII
history,” according to the author. A 1948 painting of General Rose was restored
and hung on display outside of the museum. Fogel told the Glendale Cherry Creek
Chronicle that he came to the hospital with his parents when he was
eight-years-old and saw that very same painting. His curiosity sparked, Fogel
would turn six years of work into his biography of Rose.
“I always wondered about him. I said,
‘someday I’m going to find out,’” Fogel told the Chronicle. “The longer I
researched him — which is hard because the records were difficult to find — the
more I realized you can’t make this stuff up.”
Rose was killed in combat during the war,
and at the time was the highest-ranking officer of Jewish background. The Rose
Medical Center was built to “serve every need and every creed” and was the
first hospital to hire a black doctor, Edmond Noel. Stories about Rose’s
military prowess are innumerable, and Fogel said he finds it fitting that
General Rose is side by side the hospital’s contributions to the community of
all cultures and faith.
“From my heart, to revive the legacy of
someone that important who was raised in Denver, who legitimately was a war
hero and gave his life for his country, and the richness of the legacy of why
they built this hospital to honor [Rose] has meant a lot to me,” said Fogel.
Kyle Wright, who helped Fogel construct his
book, told the Chronicle that he met Fogel while working as a server, and that
the two quickly became friends with similar interests.
“We would talk all the time, I would help
him with computer stuff. One thing led to another and [Fogel] ended up showing
me this giant portfolio he made of [General Rose’s] information. He asked me if
I wanted to help him with it, and I jumped right into it,” said Wright.
The passion that Fogel exuded for Rose and
his legacy was complimented at the ceremony by other speakers and those in
attendance.
“Our goal is to remain in the same location
and to serve this community and to uphold the values that were set forth when
the hospital started,” said President and CEO of Rose Medical Center Ryan Tobin
in an interview with the Chronicle. “I think we still live by those values
today so our goal is to continue the mission.”
Rabbi Jeffrey Kaye spoke of the commitment
to patients and families of Denver by following the examples of compassion and
excellence set forth by Rose Medical Center visionaries. In her speech, Lt.
Gov. Dianne Primavera officially declared Nov. 7 “The Power of Doing Right
Day,” a tribute to the ceremony’s theme.
The life of Rose has inspired many, and the
hospital has grown to be one of Denver’s most recognized. Rose Medical Center
has been named among the nation’s top 100 hospitals by IBM Watson for 12 years
in a row.
But the Rose Medical Center has not just
garnished a reputation as a paramount hospital, but also as a workplace that
feels like home.
One former member of the Rose Medical
Center public relations team told the Chronicle that returning to the hospital
to celebrate the 70th anniversary felt like a reunion.
“[Rose Medical Center] is really an
important part of my life,” said Beverly Petry. “People who have worked here
have always felt more like a family than just business colleagues. There’s
something in the DNA of Rose. It’s really about the focus on patients and being
collegial with doctors and that’s never changed.”
“Candles burning low, lots of mistletoe,
lots of snow and ice everywhere we go.” Those were the words that made Stevie
Wonder a miracle of popular music. This is the season when words set to music
melt our hearts. Thus as this year — seemingly more than any other — comes to
an end, “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne.”
As we bid farewell to 2019 and turn our
thoughts to 2020, we reflect on the year just past and ponder what to change
about ourselves, our lives and our community.
Here are our choices for shopping, dining
and entertainment to fill the holidays with food, fun and good fortune plus an
auspicious New Year full of kindness yet:
3 See
a live-action adaptation of the beloved children’s tale How The Grinch Stole
Christmas as he comes down from his mountaintop home to DCPA’s Buell Theatre
stage Dec. 3-8. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 Attend
this year’s Jewish Family Services Winter Soiree honor event at Infinity Park
Event Center Dec. 5, 6 p.m. Information: 720-428-4633.
3 Take
the kids for sandwiches and treats at the Oxford Hotel Dolls’ Tea with ballet
recital Dec. 8, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Information: 303-628-5400.
3 Wear
a tacky sweater for the Christmas Sweater 5K run-walk at Wash Park Dec. 15, 9
to 11 a.m. Information: coloradorunnersevents.com.
3 For
a relaxing weekend break from the busy holiday shopping season go to Denver’s
original brunch spot since 1971, the Bull & Bush Brewery. Brunch served
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: 303-759-0333.
3 For
your holiday travel needs and great gifts go to Colorado’s top luggage store
for nearly 40 years, Paradise Baggage. Select from premium travel luggage
that’s both sensible and stylish. Information: 303-320-4646.
3 Allow
the Colorado Symphony to march you into 2020 playing polkas, waltzes and
marches at Boettcher Dec. 31. Information: 303-893-4100.
3 Then
go to the 16th St. Mall to see New Year’s Eve Fireworks synced to music to
sparkle the city, 9 p.m. and midnight. Information: 303-233-8837.
3 Don’t
miss Denver Botanic Gardens’ signature holiday event for three decades, the
Blossoms of Light now through Jan. 3. The holiday extravaganza transforms the
York Street site into a twinkling winter wonderland. There are fresh and
exciting new features this year including a 360-degree immersive light
experience along with each year’s fun fan favorites, 5-9 p.m. Information:
720-865-3500.
Beyond diet and workout pledges, as the
ball drops and we pop champagne with family and friends, remember the New Year
stands for change. As we sing the Old Scottish folk song Auld Lang Syne, we
hope the nuance of the song’s message resonates with us even if most of us
don’t know the lyrics or even the song’s name.
As we pass the moments before midnight,
consider 2020 as an opening to replace this year’s social media bitterness and
hatred with brimming cups of kindness.
The song’s rhetorical question suggests, “a
cup o’ kindness” should be had in order to look back on the past and begin to
build for the future. It will make life so much better for family, friends and
those around us “for the sake of old times.” It is a chance to spark new
friendships and rekindle those we’ve allowed to fade. Happy New Year!
—
Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at
newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.
The Winners And Losers Of Legalized Sports Betting In Colorado “One of the worst things that can happen to you in life is to win a bet on a horse at an early age.” Dan McGoorty
by Luke Schmaltz
On May 14, 2018, in a lawsuit filed by the
State of New Jersey, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 was
unconstitutional. Removal of this piece of anti-gaming legislation opened the
sports betting floodgates. Currently, a deluge of widely accessible sports
wagering is fanning out across the nation and is steadily flowing to the north,
to the south, across the Midwest and toward the west coast.
Mobile Betting: Emptying your bank account is just a click away. App-based betting means no more waiting in line at the wagering window.
After the Garden State legalized sports
betting one month later, other states began following suit (19 total to date)
including New York, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illinois and most recently, Colorado.
Currently, 18 more states including Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California are
introducing similar legislation that will allow anyone with an internet connection
or a mobile device to get in on the action. The indications are two-fold —
pointing to massive tax revenues for state programs along with daunting
potential for negative social impact.
In Colorado, the ballot measure that passed
by a narrow margin on November 5 will grant the 33 licensed casinos in Black
Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek the ability to offer betting on
collegiate, professional, Olympic and motor sports. Beginning in May 2020,
wagers can be placed in person at a casino sportsbook or online from anywhere
in the state. The second part of that allowance is where the issue compounds.
Widespread accessibility equates to more tax revenue and at the same time means
more inexperienced gamblers and folks who are simply prone to addictive
behavior will be blowing kisses from afar at lady luck.
The Good
Colorado Proposition DD passed by the
thinnest of margins — 50.8% to 49.2% to be exact — which equates to about
20,000 votes or so. It can be safely surmised that the idea won favor with voters
because it was introduced in conjunction with a previously passed bill applying
a 10% flat tax on sports betting.
This means that a sizable chunk of net
sports betting revenue will flow directly to the coffers of the Colorado Water
Conservation Board. These funds will be leveraged to implement the state’s
water plan (introduced by the office of former Governor John Hickenlooper) to
meet agricultural needs and the demands of a booming population. This explains
the appeal of the measure across so many demographics within a populace that is
seemingly more concerned with infrastructure planning, economic growth and
environmental issues and less adamant about the right to legally gamble on
Sunday’s big game.
For those who are adamant about their right
to legally wager on sports, the money is doubled, so to speak. Not only can
they gamble the game of their choosing without breaking the law, they can skip
waiting in line at the betting window and play the odds from the convenience of
their homes.
The Bad
Now that anyone in Colorado over 18 will
soon be able to gamble on any game at any time from anywhere, there’s an
excellent chance that the more pertinent issues listed above may be further
obscured by this newfangled vice. The best way to speculate on what is in store
for our Rocky Mountain State is to look back to New Jersey, where sports
betting has been legal for over a year. Officials from the Council of
Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ) are expressing concern over the fact
that a 2019 Rutgers University survey discovered that 6.3 percent of state
residents have a gambling disorder — three times the national average.
Executive Director Neva Pryor explains: “It’s that accessibility that makes it
Legal In 2020: Sports betting will be legal in Colorado starting in May 2020. Bet on any aspect of any sport in real time from anywhere.
[gambling]
so easy.” Meanwhile, CCGNJ co-founder Arnie Wexler attests: “Two
years from now you won’t be able to get a seat in a Gamblers Anonymous room
because … people that never would gamble on sports illegally are now gambling
on sports.”
This is due largely to the fact that
participants are using online sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings and/or
mobile apps developed by individual casinos. The convenience of digital wager
placement and the allure of immediate payment have direct appeal to those who
subscribe to the instant gratification mindset. Couple that with rampant cell
phone addiction that is already in place for many, and you have another “double
your money” scenario. On this side of the coin, however, the odds play on the
inherent weaknesses of those prone to compulsive behavior.
The Ugly
Initially, the top four major professional
athletic leagues — NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — opposed legalization of sports
gambling. Yet, since PASPA was overturned they have all quickly assimilated
into the marketplace to secure their cut of the action. The NFL has inked a
sponsorship deal with Caesars Palace while the other three leagues have similar
contracts in place with MGM Grand.
Instant: Legalized sports betting has instant gratification appeal.
The four entities above, along with boxing,
golf, horse racing, tennis, wrestling and many more (that means you, college
sports) have well-documented histories of game fixing, rigging schemes and
gambling infestations of many stripes. Now that the leagues themselves have a
direct interest in betting revenue, gambling terms like “house rules” and “the
fix is in” may take on meaning of a never-before-seen magnitude.
What’s more, ESPN and FOX Sports 1 both
have shows dedicated to sports betting. As the phenomenon sweeps the nation
state by state, the ubiquity of it all could spell a distinct change in how
events are called by sportscasters. Wager and odds-based commentary may become
the dominating aspects of the live broadcast narrative rather than the facts of
the contest at hand.
Finally, to top it all off with a formidable one-uppance, not only can mobile app gamblers wager on an event when it is still underway, they can also bet on just about any aspect of the game at hand. At any point during play, a bettor can wager on such factors as Brandon Allen getting sacked a certain number of times, Jamal Murray hitting his next three-pointer or whether Nolan Arenado connects with the next fastball. Whatever the sport — that’s one way to empty out a bank account in record time.
Mental health is important all year long.
But around the holidays it can be especially difficult to feel your best. The
holiday season brings a lot of demands — parties, shopping, baking, cleaning
and entertaining — which can lead to stress and depression. To make sure your
holidays are happy ones, it’s important to keep some perspective and stop the
celebration from taking an emotional toll. These tips from the Mayo Clinic can help
keep stress and depression away.
1. Acknowledge
your feelings. Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you absolutely have
to feel happy. Give yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling, whether
it’s sadness, grief or frustration. Your heart doesn’t run by the calendar. If
you’re feeling blue, don’t add emotions of guilt and anxiety on top of it.
2. Don’t
go it alone. Human beings are social — we are meant to be with others. If
you’re feeling lonely or isolated, seek out community, church, or social
events. Join a club or spend time volunteering.
3. Manage
expectations. Sometimes we put too much stress on ourselves because we think
things are supposed to be a certain way. But, it’s important to remember that
change is possible. Traditions are great but changing them as families and
demands grow is fine too. Relax and find new ways to celebrate. It’s okay!
4. Stick
to a budget. A huge source of stress and depression during the holidays is
money. It’s common to overspend, or to feel guilty because you think you
haven’t spent enough. Understanding this and taking steps to stay on budget can
help. Before you head to the mall, decide on how much you can afford and stick
with it. Or, consider alternatives to gift giving such as donating to a charity
in someone’s name, making homemade gifts, or drawing names for a gift exchange.
5. Be
selective. The holidays bring a slew of invitations to parties, potlucks and
concerts, and it’s easy to overload your calendar and soon feel resentful and
overwhelmed. Instead, think about the events that are important to you and
prioritize those. Don’t take on too much or feel you have to say yes to
everything. In addition, carve out some time for yourself and do things on your
own that reduce stress and restore your inner calm.
6. Stay
healthy. Throughout the parties and busy schedules, keep healthy habits on
track. It’s tempting to blow off a workout or grab those cookies someone
brought to the office. But don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all, as
overeating and not exercising only add to stress and depression. Try to limit
sweets, cheese, and alcohol. Get plenty of sleep and stick to your exercise
routine.
7. Seek
professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, it is possible
during the holidays or anytime, to still feel blue. You may feel persistently
sad or anxious, irritable, or hopeless. You may have difficulty sleeping,
experience a change in appetite, or find yourself unable to face routine
chores. If these feelings last, it’s important to get help. Depression is
treatable. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.
8. Take
back control. Finally, just because the holidays are here doesn’t mean you have
to be subject to past feelings or new pressures. Learn to recognize your
holiday triggers, whether it’s overspending, overscheduling, or overeating.
Slow down and regain perspective. Think positively and try to find peace and
joy.
The holidays can be stressful, but with
some planning and understanding, you can make the most of them. For more tips
on healthy living of the spirit, mind, and body, contact the wellness
professionals at the Glendale Sports Center managed by the YMCA.
Justin is the Lifestyle Medicine
Coordinator at the Glendale Sports Center managed by the YMCA of Metro Denver.
He has worked in the fitness industry since 2015 and received his BS and MS in
Exercise Physiology from Western Kentucky University. He joined the Denver YMCA
in 2019 after moving from Bowling Green, KY.
