Tennyson Center
SCL Health At Infinity Park Sponsor Partner Profile
by John Arthur
Writer for and on behalf of the City of Glendale
GLENDALE, CO – OCTOBER 7: Glendale Merlins Men vs New York Old Blue at Infinity Park on October 7, 2017 in Glendale, Colorado. (Photo by Seth McConnell)
Sponsor partnerships are an important and mutually beneficial aspect of regional sports teams, organizations, and venues. Glendale’s Infinity Park, the first rugby-specific venue in the nation, offers a unique and vibrant platform from which sponsors can create their own brand awareness, engage in community outreach, and target an enthusiastic and growing rugby fan base. Infinity Park and the Glendale Rugby Club have recently welcomed a sponsor partnership with SCL Health — a relationship that begins as Infinity Park celebrates its 10th anniversary in Glendale, and as the Raptors prepare to enter the next chapter of the organization’s rich history.
SCL Health is a faith-based, non-profit health organization headquartered in Broomfield, Colo. SCL Health traces its history – and its name – to the Sisters of Charity Leavenworth, a Catholic religious institution that follows in the tradition of 17th century French leaders, Saints Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. Dedicated to improving the health of the people and communities they serve, SCL’s $2.5 billion dollar healthcare network aspires to provide comprehensive, coordinated care in Colorado and Montana. In Colorado, SCL Health operates Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton, and St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction. With 11 total hospitals, more than 115 physician clinics, and over 18,000 employees, the organization focuses on excellent patient care quality, and is especially dedicated to improving the health of the poor and vulnerable.
Tim Shonsey, the Regional Director of Marketing and Communications for SCL Health’s Front Range hospitals, says he’s had his eye on sponsorship at Infinity Park for some time: “We decided to sponsor Infinity Park because it’s a great venue to connect with the Glendale community. Having a growing sports audience that has a direct connection to one of our providers made it an easy decision.” Shonsey re-marked that sponsorship is an important part of SCL Health’s general community outreach as well, noting that the organization also supports Colorado Public Radio and partners with other media outlets to provide health information to the communities it serves. “The most important part of any partnership opportunity is our ability to promote health and wellness to people who may one day become our patients,” said Shonsey.
Uniquely, SCL Health’s partnership with Infinity Park extends beyond the recent sponsorship. Dr. Michael DaRosa, a Sports Medicine Physician at SCL Health Medical Group – Denver Sports Medicine, is also the team physician for the Glendale Raptors and Merlins. Specializing in musculoskeletal injuries, pain treatment, and a sports-related concussion specialist, DaRosa has been treating Glendale’s rugby players since 2016: “I love caring for these extremely tough, strong, and skilled athletes on the sidelines and in my office. My goal for all my patients is get them back in action as safely and quickly as possible. It is an absolute pleasure caring for these hardworking athletes at beautiful Infinity Park.” Asked about why SCL Health would endeavor to become a sponsor partner of Infinity Park, DaRosa remarked that the organization appreciates seeing active, motivated individuals — exact
ly the kind of patrons that Infinity Park and the Glendale Rugby Clubs attract. Just as Coloradans are passionate about rugby, SCL Health is passionate about caring for the communities it serves.
Since its founding in 2007, Infinity Park has become a hub not just for entertainment, community, and, of course, rugby, but has also served as a nexus of Colorado’s healthy, active character. Celebrating 10 years of impassioned growth, and standing on the brink of a new chapter of explosive rugby expansion, Glendale is also proud to be embarking on a new sponsor partnership with SCL Health. No doubt the new sponsor is also looking forward to a fruitful relationship — alongside Glendale’s loyal fan base, the Raptors’ role as a founding team in the forthcoming Major League Rugby organization means that SCL is poised to see a significant return on investment.
New Rec Center On East Colfax Opening In December
by Ruthy Wexler
The Carla Madison Recreation Center, under construction for two years at the corner of Josephine and East Colfax, will officially open mid-December. Like its namesake, the center intends for a wide variety of citizens to have the very best.
Multi-leveled and multi-colored, the 62,000 square-foot building features: two swimming pools (leisure and lap); a rooftop deck; a gymnasium with full-size basketball court; cardio-weight and exercise rooms; a child watch area; classrooms and gathering spaces — as well as an outdoor plaza complete with picnic and ping pong tables, a bouldering wall, bike station and slackline area.
Soon, roughly 30,000 monthly visitors will enjoy this state-of-the-art haven in Denver’s urban core.
How Carla Madison — City Council representative for District 8 from 2007 until her death in 2011 — would have loved it!
No One Like Her
With her bright orange hair and costume-like outfits, Madison didn’t look like a politician. Nor — beaming at all and sundry as she dashed about town on her orange scooter — did she act like one.
“We all looked forward to seeing what she would have on,” said a colleague, recalling Madison’s outrageous headgear. “Once she wore c
at ears to a meeting!”
But representing her district was no joke to Madison, who worked 16-hour days and cared deeply about health care, historic preservation and zoning. Her approach to policy, said Governor John Hickenlooper, was “thoughtful and pragmatic.”
He added, “There is and never was anyone like her.”
Unopposed
Madison stood out in this way, too: I could not find one word spoken against her — a rare phenomenon in politics.
Even before her death brought out the accolades, politicians of all persuasions praised Madison’s kindness and generosity.
“If I was having a bad day,” said Hickenlooper, “I would seek Carla out for the tonic of her company.”
Madison — who worked as a mapmaker and physical therapist before entering politics — considered herself an artist. But her greatest work of art was her life, where she shaped each day with such joyful sincerity, cynicism faded in her presence. She’d finished her first term and was running unopposed for her second when Madison succumbed to the cancer she’d been battling and died at age 54.
Connections
“We didn’t know Carla,” says Craig Bouck, CEO of Barker Rinker Seacat (BRS), the Denver architecture firm that designed the new center. “But talking to people who did, her values inspired us. With her name, the word ‘connect’ always came up. She believed in the power of connection. And we thought about that.
“What we did was take the front of the building and pull it away from the street — just a bit — to create a covered porch. This is where people can stop, engage, mingle …
“And how she celebrated herself in bright colors? That influenced our palette. Inside, bold bright colors … including orange!”
First In Colorado
The architects are clear: Carla Madison is the only urban rec center in Colorado.
“Sure, there are gyms in the city. But rec centers with all the a
menities are always located in parks or suburban spaces,” Bouck explained. “We were challenged: ‘How to provide great spaces for the community and also convey the uniqueness of this setting?’”
With land at a premium, they stacked spaces vertically — and used large expanses of glass. “Imagine,” chuckled Bouck. “You’re playing basketball, you look out — and see city rooftops and also the Front Range!
“‘It’s Colorado!’ we kept saying. So we put big garage doors on the exercise rooms … they roll up to let in fresh air.”
Unique
Connecting to nearby “historic elements” — Sullivan Gateway, the Esplanade, East High School — was deemed equally important so the architects placed windows to afford long views down Colfax. “People might not be consciously aware they’re taking in history, but it sinks in,” said Bouck, who sat with his team on a garage roof to watch pedestrian flow down Colfax. “From East, 1200 kids move through this intersection every day at lunch. Now they can eat at our picnic tables, have fun on the bouldering wall …
“We’ve worked closely with East. They can use our pool. We can use their parking space.”
That reciprocal partnership is just one of the center’s unique features. Others include: 1) public art on the exterior, an LED screen lighting up according to inside activity; 2) a climbing wall on the outside of the building, starting at the 25’ second level; 3) exercise rooms that face the mountains; 4) the best view of all — the rooftop deck — given over to the community.
Community
Efforts to give this “long underserved” community a center began in 2003. During subsequent years, as the city purchased the land and gathered the funds, the project was known as Central Denver Rec Center. Then a grassroots movement began: “Name It Carla.” Signatures on petitions mounted. There was no opposition.
Now, Carla Madison Recreation Center will be an integral part of the East Colfax neighborhood, where businesses say they welcome the new center and the increased energy it will bring.
In a last interview, Madison said, “My only regret is that I won’t 
be able to finish the work I want to do.”
But seeing as how Madison fought for the resurgence of Colfax — how she cared about art and the environment — with this new (art-filled, LEED Gold certified, community-friendly) center, not only her name will live on; her work and spirit will too.
Great American Beer Festival And Surrounding Events Dominate Lower Downtown For Three Days
60,000 Attend The 36th Annual Event
by Jeff Stiglic and Mark Smiley
The 36th Annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) was held October 5-7, 2017, at the Colorado Convention Center. Over 800 breweries poured 3,900 beers over the three-day fest hosted by the Brewers Association. Attendees surpassed 60,000 making it the largest attended GABF ever. It has come a long way since 1982 when it was held at the Harvest House Hotel in Boulder. There were 24 breweries, 47 beers and 800 attendees back then.
The state of Colorado won 38 medals as Glendale’s very own Bull & Bush Brewery took home a bronze medal for their Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer called Woody Pils. Colorado tied their total from last year with an impressive lineup of entries. As an attendee who lives in Denver, it is nice to support the home team but it is also an opportunity to taste beers that are otherwise unavailable in this state. And, it is a chance to sample beers that are just starting distribution in Colorado such as Surly Brewing Company from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Two Roads Brewing Company from Stratford, Connecticut.
“Having just launched our beers in the Colorado market, it was a great opportunity to gain brand recognition locally,” said Lizzy Shpitalnik, Colorado Sales Manager for Two Roads Brewing Company. “We also had Two Roads staff at the booth pouring our ten offerings at all times, so we were able to connect with festival goers on a deeper level.”
Two Roads was also invited to an event called What the Funk hosted by Crooked Stave Artisans. This event was one of many held outside the confines of the Colorado Convention Center. On Wednesday, October 4, 2017, The Studios at Overland Crossing played host to this year’s event. Attendees were treated to rare beers and adventurous concoctions that served as a great lead in to this year’s GABF.
The crew of Brewski-Reviewski not 
only attended the three day GABF but also covered many of these events in and around town to see how they enhanced the week dedicated to beer.
Thursday, October 5, opening night of GABF, the crew started the first hour at the festival getting a feel for the layout of the hall so they would be able to easily navigate it on Saturday, October 7, after the awards ceremony. After that, it was off to Epic Brewing for the 5th annual 50 Firkin Fiasco.
The event was set up throughout the brewery with 50 specialty beers they brewed and collaborated with other breweries. Epic did not disappoint on this, with beers scattered everywhere to taste, and live music to set the mood. From standard beers like IPAs and stouts to beers brewed with sage and even one with Swedish Fish, this is a recommended event for next year.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus was the venue for the Beer Hall Brawl with Melvin Brewing from Wyoming. This event could be characterized by one word: crazy. The crew from these two places combined the in-house beer from Bierstadt with Melvin, having Hacksaw Jim Duggan wrestling with the team from Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestlers. The crowd enjoyed the theatrics of the wrestlers with some great German style beers.
Friday morning had two interesting events to choose from. Samuel Adams hosted its annual Brewers Brunch at Marlowe’s off 16th Street Mall. And, Oskar Blues promoted a Friends and Family Backstage Pass and Tour with a bus from Denver to the brewery in Longmont.
The Brewers Brunch organized and hosted by Samuel Adams is a
Sam Adams GABF brunch Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Denver. (Photo by Jack Dempsey for Boston Beer Company)
time-honored tradition and a chance for beer enthusiasts to engage in conversations about all things craft beer. Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams kicked off the event welcoming the capacity crowd to Denver. Koch started Samuel Adams in his kitchen in 1984 when imported and domestic beers were the only options for beer lovers.
A panel moderated by Bob Pease, President and CEO of the Brewers Association, included Koch and other craft brewers who shared their stories on what makes their breweries successful and the challenges they face.
Samuel Adams capped off the event by introducing its newest beer that will hit the market early next year called Sam ’76. It’s a beer that takes two active fermentations and blends them together with Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Galaxy hops. It imparts a tropical citrus aroma that gives way to a bright, juicy citrus hop flavor but without the hop bitterness.
Turning to the Oskar Blues event, media and guests were greeted at the Longmont brewery with a pint of Fresh Hop Pale Ale. There were six groups each with 15-18 guests to walk through the brewery with head brewer Tim Matthews.
Part of the tour focused on the actual science that goes into the brewing process. The tour was followed up with a lunch provided by CHUBurger by Oskar Blues while Matthews described what goes into four of their beers: Mamm’s Little Pils, Pinner, Dales Pale Ale, and IPA. All in all, a tour at Oskar Blues is a good experience. They conduct tours every day of the week. Visit www. oskarblues.com for more information.
On Friday afternoon, Avery hosted a guided tasting with brewer Andy Parker at Hayter’s & Co. in LODO. Parker described each of the beers on sample at the ro
oftop event while guests sampled them all. It allowed for plenty of time to try many of the beers offered by Avery and make it to the GABF on time.
The Awards Ceremony is the key event for brewers and a big part of why they participate in the festival. It is a chance for smaller breweries to win a medal and be recognized for the hard work they put into their beers. The medal winners were announced on Saturday morning, October 7.
Launch Pad Brewery in Aurora is a small brewery that took home a silver medal for session beers with a beer called Peacekeeper. “It’s a bigger feeling than I thought it would be, and it’s great to be recognized by your peers for your hard work,” said David Levesque, owner of Launch Pad Brewery.
The 37th Annual GABF will once again be held at the Colorado Convention Center but earlier in 2018. It will be held from September 20-22, 2018. Visit www.great americanbeerfestival.com for more details.
To listen to interviews with brewers, visit www.brewski-reviewski.podbean.com.
