Multiple Sites Finishing Up But Only A Couple Commencing; Stunning Newly Built Structures Opening In The District For Fall
by Glen Richardson
Reshaping Cherry Creek: Holiday shoppers-visitors in the district will be greeted by this new mixed-use retail-office building on the corner of 3rd. Ave. & Josephine. The structure is a standout as most new buildings are far from futuristic.
The pandemic and a weakening economy find Cherry Creek’s construction sites still turning shovels and swinging hammers, but the pace has slowed and few new projects are expected to sprout up. Following eight straight years of new construction, owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors and the supply chain are feeling the shock.
Normally it’s rare for district developers-builders to slow down construction activity. But these aren’t normal times, and the pandemic economy has given rise to a noticeable work cutback. The structure of demand is changing: Fewer hotels are being proposed due to less business-leisure travel. Online shopping is shrinking the demand for retail space and the need for offices is slowing because of remote working.
Multiple projects are finishing up in Cherry Creek plus a couple have commenced construction. Residents and district shoppers can expect those projects to be completed. It is new projects that have been proposed in the district that are likely to see terminations of parties or entire projects. Given the hotel outlook, the AC Marriott in Cherry Creek is likely to be delayed or the site could go up for resale. The Sunridge Hotel Group project is proposed for seven-stories, 150-rooms.
Westside Wait
Redevelopment of Cherry Creek’s west end has been the slowest to take off. Completion of the 260 North office-retail project at Josephine St. and East 3rd Ave. and makeover of the former Inn at Cherry Creek opening as The Clayton at 233 Clayton St. in March of 2021 are notable exceptions.
New Excavation: Despite Cherry Creek’s construction cutback, dirt work is underway at this 240 Saint Paul site. Building will be anchored across the first three floors by an Equinox Fitness Club.
Broe Real Estate Group which owns the bulk of the east side of Clayton St. announced a year ago it would demolish several structures to make way for two new office buildings. Existing two-story structures at 200 and 210 Clayton are to be replaced with an eight-story office building with ground-floor retail. The adjacent four-story building it owns at 216 Clayton would remain but the two-story parking garage to the north would be replaced with a seven-story office building and ground-floor retail. Broe’s headquarters is at 252 Clayton and the firm has deep pockets. Thus the massive project will likely come to fruition but demolition isn’t expected to begin until next year with completion two-five years away.
The promised Clayton Lane Investors redevelopment of the west end of Cherry Creek between 1st and 2nd Ave. from Josephine to Detroit St. is in limbo again. The Invesco Real Estate-Broomfield partnership project isn’t likely to break ground in the next 12-14 month. Completion that would include demolishing the former Sears store that has been vacant since 2015 isn’t likely in the next several years. Should the venture be terminated look for the Nichols Partnership — Clayton Lane’s original developer — who just bought back a portion of the Whole Foods Garage for $6 million — to take over the project.
Boundary-Pushing: The just completed UC Health Cherry Creek has opened along East 1st Ave. Sleek all-glass structure creates a new footprint on the eastside as the surrounding buildings are heavy with earth tones and masonry.
New For Fall
Newly completed projects scattered through the fashionable neighborhood are beginning to open for fall. The project known as 260 North has finally opened, creating the west end’s first high-end, mixed-use space. Situated adjacent to the BMC built MOXY and Halcyon Hotels — the only other new westside structures — it is a compelling building with a stepped-up design. Located on the corner of 3rd and Josephine streets, it adds office, retail and parking space while allowing daylight into the streetscape.
On the east end, the just completed modernistic 88,000-sq.-ft. UC Health Cherry Creek has opened. With an all-glass façade, it stands out alone on East 1st Ave. as most of the surrounding buildings are heavy with earth tones and masonry. The health center offers primary care, state of the art imaging, a surgery center and comprehensive oncology treatment.
Over in the Cherry Creek Triangle, two major multi-family projects are also open. Between the step down, brickwork and landscaping, Gables Cherry Creek II helps reduce the harshness of East Alameda Ave. Gables Vista, rising 12-stories, is one of the tallest in the triangle. All together the three Gables projects have added 579 homes in the district.
On The Rise
Two projects, both BMC developments, are currently under construction in the district. Newest is the 240 Saint Paul project to be anchored across the first three floors by the Equinox Fitness Club. Most of the office space is pre-leased and at last report half of the 12,000-sq.-ft. of retail space had been rented. Construction is anticipated to take at least 14 months, with completion in summer-early fall of next year.
Urban Lifestyle: Gables Cherry Creek II in the Cherry Creek Triangle offers a walkable urban lifestyle with enhanced amenities. Step down brickwork and landscaping reduces the harshness of East Alameda Ave.
Renamed The Clayton, Matt Joblon signed a 99-year ground lease on the 233 Clayton St. property in the fall of 2017. Since renovation started a year ago, BMC is spending $30 million to add onto the property that’s expected to open next March.
What will make the project unique in Cherry Creek is Joblon’s goal to create a “real culture center.” In addition to 37 hotel rooms, the six-story building will feature 12,000-sq.-ft. of “hip retail” on the ground-floor plus scores of music, culinary and art venues for entertainment, exploration and enjoyment.
Projects On Horizon
Despite the district’s construction slowdown, there are several new projects on the horizon in Cherry Creek. They range from office buildings to apartment complexes, two potential hotels plus an independent living community for seniors.
More Glass: Construction could soon get underway on this proposed glass structure at 2nd Ave. & Adams. Retail-office site would extend the existing stretch of retail on East 2nd Ave further east.
Most likely to begin construction is the 2nd Ave. & Adams project where a two-story office building and a single-family home have already been cleared. Purchased by Blair Richardson, the 0.29-acre site would feature an all-glass building with ground floor retail plus four levels of office space. When it is developed it will extend the existing stretch of retail on East 2nd Ave. further east.
Due to the project’s nature, a proposed seven-story, 136-unit senior living project could also break ground next year. Named Solterra Senior Living, the site is near the intersection of Alameda Ave. and Colorado Blvd. A self-service car wash was recently demolished at the site to make way for the project. The infill site at 235 Fillmore that has set vacant for several years has been purchased by BMC, making development more likely. An office building with ground-floor retail is proposed.
(BPT) – Before COVID-19, you probably didn’t put much thought into washing your hands. A bit of soap and a quick lather seemed adequate. Now, hand washing is center stage as a main step to fight the spread of the virus and help people of all ages stay healthy.
Regular hand washing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This not only helps with the COVID-19 virus, but also helps protect you from other viruses, such as cold and flu germs.
COVID-19 is efficiently killed with soap and water, which is why the CDC recommends scrubbing your hands several times a day. However, parents and caregivers may struggle with getting their kids to wash their hands the right way. From impatient toddlers to distracted teens, hand washing may not be happening correctly.
To help your family wash their hands the right way and have fun while doing it, the health experts from Colgate offer some simple steps to consider:
Step 1: Have a family meeting
Talking about hand washing casually won’t make a lasting impression. Hand washing is important, especially during the pandemic, so give it the attention it needs by calling a family meeting. Talk about how hand washing kills germs and stay positive, saying how your family wants to be a part of the solution in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Step 2: Discuss proper hand washing
Proper hand washing is simple once you know how to do it. First, wet hands with clean water. Apply soap and scrub the entire hand for at least 20 seconds, including between the fingers. Finally, rinse and air dry or use a clean towel. Availability of soap and washing correctly is essential. That’s why Colgate is donating 1.4 million bar soaps distributed in the U.S. as part of the #SafeHands challenge, featuring instructions for effective hand washing. The bar soaps, along with other health and hygiene products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and body wash, will be delivered to food banks and school lunch programs nationwide via Colgate’s trademark Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental vans. In total, Colgate’s product donations across the country is valued at over $8MM.
Step 3: Make it fun
What’s typically the hardest part of proper hand washing is the length of time. To make hand washing fun, sing a tune for that length of time. For example, sing “Happy Birthday” twice to hit the mark. Or, customize a favorite nursery song and sing it for that length. To the tune of “Row your boat” sing: “Wash, wash, wash your hands. Wash them every day! Scrub with soap, rinse it down, wash those germs away!”
Step 4: Praise and rewards
Make hand washing a part of children’s responsibilities, much how they are expected to make their bed and read daily. You may want to add posters and other reminders to help the family remember the importance of hand washing. Remember, positive reinforcement and recognizing a job well done goes much further than scolding when stressing new habits. You may even decide to set up a rewards program; for instance, young children get a sticker every time they wash their hands.
Mixed race woman washing her hands
Step 5: Be a role model
When encouraging your family to adopt healthy habits, it’s best to lead by example. Wash your hands regularly using the correct procedures. Sing loud and proud so people know you’re doing it for 20 seconds. Show it’s a priority for you so your family knows it should be a priority for them.
For more information on Colgate’s support of the #SafeHands Challenge and their global impact of donation more than 25 million products globally, visit ColgatePalmolive.com.
Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.
Jayson Penn Indicted By Federal Grand Jury In Denver; Feds Find A Chicken Conspiracy At Greeley-Based Firm
by Glen Richardson
A federal grand jury in Denver has indicted Jayson Penn, the CEO of Greeley-based Pilgrim’s Pride, and three other current or former chicken industry executives for price fixing. The grand jury in U.S. District Court here indicted all four with one count of conspiring to fix prices for broiler chickens from at least 2012 through 2017. A trial is scheduled to begin this month (August).
Scratching Out A Living: Headquarters of the second-largest U.S. chicken company Pilgrim’s Pride is in Greeley. The entrance includes a bust of founder Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim. The firm reported annual revenue last year (2019) of $11.41 billion.
The indictments came after grocers, retailers and consumers accused Pilgrim’s Pride, Tyson Foods Inc., and other poultry processors in a lawsuit of conspiring since 2008 to inflate prices for broiler chickens. Fabio Sandrio, chief financial officer, is serving as interim president and CEO.
The other executives allegedly involved in the scheme include former Pilgrim’s Pride vice president Roger Austin, Claxton Poultry Farms President Mikell Fries, and Scott Brady, a former Pilgrim’s Price executive who joined Claxton in 2012. Pilgrim’s Pride supplies chicken for Costco and Yum Brands’ KFC, while Claxton is a supplier for Chick-fil-A.
$11.4 Billion Income
Pilgrim’s Pride is the second-largest U.S. chicken company, with reported annual revenue last year (2019) of $11.41 billion. It is majority-owned by Brazilian meat giant JBS. Tyson Foods Inc. — the largest U.S. poultry processor by sales — meanwhile says it is cooperating in the Justice Department’s probe into the matter, under a leniency program that will let Tyson avoid criminal prosecution.
Penn pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, while a judge barred him from contacting poultry buyers allegedly victimized by the scheme. He also agreed to surrender his passport and not leave the country.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen Mix said at the hearing that Mr. Penn can remain free on personal recognizance, and can travel. She imposed conditions on his actions while he awaits trial, most notably that he can’t contact employees of eight companies that are customers of Pilgrim’s and are alleged victims of price-fixing by Mr. Penn and co-conspirators. The Judge also said Mr. Penn couldn’t contact price negotiators at other chicken suppliers who allegedly participated in the price fixing.
Penn On Paid Leave
Jayson Penn joined Pilgrim’s in March of 2011 as Senior Vice President of the Commercial Business Group. He moved up to President of Pilgrim’s USA in 2017 and was promoted to President-CEO in March of 2019.
Indicted CEO: Jayson Penn, the CEO of Greeley-based Pilgrim’s Pride, has been placed on paid leave following pleading not guilty to the federal charge.
Pilgrim’s Board placed Penn on leave with pay following the hearing. He makes $4,418,340 as President-CEO at Pilgrim’s Pride.
“The Board takes the recent allegations very seriously and believes it is in the best interest of both Jayson and the company that he is given the opportunity to focus on his legal defense at this time,” Board Chairman Gilberto Tomazoni said in a statement.
Ruffled Feathers
“After years of talk, the feds finally pounced,” observe legal experts familiar with how the Department of Justice executes prosecutions of business organizations. They say it is one of the stranger examples of alleged market-rigging in a long history of cases, made more unusual in that the chief executive of a company that big is actually facing criminal charges and as many as 10 years in prison. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by victims if either amount is greater than $1 million, according to the Department of Justice.
Chicken House Pride: Founder Bo Pilgrim, at right, performed in ads dressed in pilgrim garb with a pet chicken named “Henrietta.” His Texas mansion was nicknamed “Cluckingham Palace” by neighbors. He sold the company to JBS in 2009 and it was moved to Greeley.
The charges the U.S. Justice Department laid out in its indictment appear to document executives at competing companies colluding to share pricing and bidding information from 2012 through 2017 in the cut-throat world of commodity chicken. Makan Delrahim, the head of the government’s antitrust division, said in a statement: “Executives who cheat American consumers, restaurateurs, and grocers, and compromise the integrity of our food supply, will be held responsible for their actions.”
Vertically integrated, Pilgrim’s Pride is involved in breeding, hatching, raising, processing and distributing chicken. The company produces some 11 billion pounds of chicken products annually and serves more than 6,000 retail food outlets, distributors and food service operators.
Chicken Feed Start
Pilgrim’s Pride traces its roots to Pittsburg, Texas, where Lonnie Alfred “Bo” Pilgrim opened a chicken feed store in 1946 with his older brother, Aubrey. They grew the fledgling company by handing out free chicks along with purchased bags of feed sold to customers.
Bo Pilgrim would often dress in pilgrim garb, complete with a pet chicken named “Henrietta,” to perform in advertisements. The extravagant Texas mansion where he lived was dubbed “Cluckingham Palace.” Set on 43 acres, it had 10 bathrooms, an indoor pool, cinema and gymnasium.
He sold the international poultry operation to Brazilian company JBS in 2009, and its headquarters was moved to Greeley. He died in 2017 at age 89.
Out of everything that’s been lost over the past few months, one of the few things that won’t be lamented is the brown cloud of pollution hanging over Denver like a giant swarm of gnats.
Composting is a clear, logical way to reverse global warming on an individual scale.
As the city reopens, the brown cloud will return, but if you happened to go outside and glance upward anytime in late March, April or May 2020, you were probably shocked at how blue the sky actually is — even over a large city. In early April, The Denver Post reported an 80% decrease in sulfur oxide in the downtown area and up to 50% reduction of particulates such as nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide compared to data from the same time in 2019.
Although the shutdown briefly reduced carbon emissions at home and across the globe, the respite is not nearly enough to reverse 200+ years of industrialization. If a significant reversal of global warming is to occur, everyone has to do their part. This does not mean you have to wear hemp sandals and ride a bamboo bicycle to work. You can actually help the planet out by doing less, that is, when it comes to throwing away grass clippings, dead tree branches and other detritus generated from landscaping and routine yardwork.
The Basics
But first, for those who may yet be unaware, the combustion of fossil fuel in automobiles, industrial machinery and farming equipment along with other agricultural activities releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy-related CO2 emissions across the globe are projected to increase from 32 billion metric tons in 2016 to 35 billion by the end of 2020. This atmospheric carbon, combined with methane, sulfur oxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide make up what are known as “greenhouse gasses.” The greenhouse effect occurs as these gasses allow sunlight to pass into the atmosphere, yet they do not allow heat from the planet to radiate into space. The result is global warming, which if allowed to continue, can have devastating effects on human populations worldwide — especially in coastal areas.
Carbon emissions from here can be reduced from the same place, one yard at a time.
Make The Yard Work
While the population as a whole might be able to reduce how much they travel via automobile, bus and airplane, curtailing the use of fossil fuels is not enough to reverse global warming. As an individual, however, you can lessen your carbon footprint by decreasing the amount of atmospheric carbon that originates from your front and back yard. Activities once deemed as essential must be reexamined through a CO2-awareness lens. Upending the soil for gardens, incessant cutting of grass, trimming of hedges and pruning of trees all release carbon in one form or another. Tilling and digging opens up the topsoil — and the escaping carbon mixes with the ever-present atmospheric oxygen and becomes CO2. Meanwhile, organic material in the form of grass clippings, hedge trimmings and tree twigs that gets hauled off to the landfill generates methane as it decomposes.
A Novel Approach
The brown cloud was lifted, but global warming is bigger than a brief shutdown.
Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it through either biological or geological means. Plant life on your property is already doing this, all you have to do is to not interrupt the process with traditional yard maintenance protocols. Instead, you can leave dirt and soil undisturbed by growing flowers, plants and vegetables in raised garden beds. This leaves the soil intact while producing more oxygen and more plant material to reintroduce back into the ground. When you mow the lawn, prune trees, pull weeds and trim shrubbery you can take the trapped carbon in this “yard waste” and sequester it by breaking it down into small pieces (use a wood chipper for branches and twigs) and integrating it back into the soil through a deliberate process.
Composting Yard Waste
1.Air, water, nitrogen and carbon are the four essentials for compost. Nitrogen is supplied in the form of organic kitchen waste and green grass clippings. Carbon is just about anything organic that is brown such as pine needles, dry leaves, grass clippings, hay and sawdust as well as shredded paper and cardboard. The ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N) should be anywhere from 25:1 to 40:1 — which basically means material that is drier than fresh waste.
2.Choose a space that is approximately a cubic yard in dimension (3x3x3) and that is removed from high traffic pathways and living quarters. To partition off the area, you can use old wooden shipping pallets, hay bales, chicken wire or anything similar you have sitting around.
3.Next, build your compost pile keeping C:N ratios in mind. Be sure to place food scraps beneath pine needles, leaves, dry grass, etc. in order to keep odors down and insects and rodents away. Next, wet the pile and then simply allow worms, microorganisms, bacteria and fungi to break down the material. You can add air by poking the pile with a pitchfork or a rake or by turning it every few days with a shovel. Add a small amount of water every few days to keep the breakdown agents moist, and when you add more to the pile be sure to integrate the new material in with the old.
4.Once your compost is dark brown with an earthy texture, it can be added to your raised beds, placed at the base of trees and shrubs and sprinkled about the lawn. Composting can save you money on fertilizer, generate less waste that needs to be hauled away by a fossil fuel-burning engine and help yield lush plants and trees. Basically, to do your part for the planet, keep the carbon in the yard.
One of the most animated races this primary season is House District 6 in East and Central Denver. Three candidates are vying for the nomination and the Democratic primary is set for June 30, 2020. Steven Woodrow currently holds the seat he was appointed to by the vacancy committee and has since February 4, 2020. His current term ends on January 13, 2021, and he is running for re-election.
The vacancy for the House seat occurred when the previous representative, Chris Hansen, received an appointment on January 16, 2020, to fill the unexpired term of Senator Lois Court, who resigned due to health problems. Woodrow won 45 of the 71 votes from the vacancy committee beating out six other candidates.
Now, Woodrow must win the vote of the registered voters in District 6 and many are calling this the race to watch. It appears the election may be close with three candidates vying for the nomination. The challengers to Woodrow are Dan Himelspach and Steven Paletz who are engaging in active campaigns.
Forty-two percent of the registered voters in the district that covers East and Central Denver are registered Democrats while 17 percent are registered Republicans. It is deemed likely that whoever wins the primary later this month will win the seat in the state House.
Himelspach is challenging Woodrow based on the flawed vacancy committee process. “Colorado has the highest number of bureaucrats appointed through the vacancy process than any other state in the country,” said Himelspach. “Although many people who were part of the vacancy committee are supporting our campaign, the process is not reflective of a strong democracy. That’s why I did not participate in the vacancy committee.” Himelspach has been endorsed by District 5 Denver City Councilmember, Amanda Sawyer as well as former City Councilmembers Ed Thomas and Cathy Donohue among others.
Dan Himelspach
Steven Paletz has a similar view as to why the vacancy committee is not a true representation. “The vacancy committee is not representative of the values of the voters of the district and does not include the voices of unaffiliated leaning democrats that make up a significant portion of the primary electorate in HD6,” said Paletz. “The vacancy committee was also not an issue focused vote, but what some committee members described as a ‘popularity contest.’” Paletz’s endorsements include State Senator Robert Rodriguez and State Representatives Kerry Tipper and Cathy Kipp among others.
Although Paletz recognizes that the vacancy committee does not represent the values of the voters, he sees this election as an extension of what he started last year. “I don’t see this campaign as a challenge to Mr. Woodrow,” said Paletz. “Rather, it is a continuation of the campaign that I announced in October of 2019, as I was the first person to formally declare candidacy in the Democratic primary for HD6. I believe HD6 voters deserve the opportunity to have a voice in who will represent them in the state legislature and should have the opportunity to choose a candidate that shares their values.”
Dan Himelspach also jumped into this race early collecting signatures to be on the ballot the first day they became available. “Our campaign has been focused on listening to the concerns of our neighbors and making our state government work for, ‘We the People’ again,” said Himelspach. “The fact that we were the first campaign in all of Colorado to collect the necessary signatures and be placed on the ballot by the Colorado Secretary of State — all without excepting a dime from Corporate PACs, is a testament to the grassroots support our campaign has.”
Himelspach, who has lived in Denver for four decades has a clear sense of what he would do if elected. “When elected, I am going to focus on fighting for our teachers and students by supporting strong public schools, protecting our environment, and supporting our LGBTQ neighbors and protecting a women’s right to choose,” said Himelspach. “Right now, our state is faced with tough decisions on how to properly open and support our small businesses and protect our workers and families — not just economically, but also in relation to our public health and safety. As someone who runs a small family-owned business with my daughter [selling innovative products to brain researchers all over the world] and who is a dispute resolution professional — mediating over 7,000 disputes, I am most qualified to navigate us through this pandemic.”
Steven Paletz
Paletz also outlines what he would do focusing on mental health and economic recovery. “If elected, I will lead with empathy on addressing our state’s mental health crisis, including addressing the highest increase of teen suicide in the nation and the nation’s highest teen depression rate,” said Paletz. “Having worked in both the business community and all three branches of government, I will also be a leader on our state’s economic recovery from COVID-19. This includes securing support for Colorado’s workers and small business communities throughout this recovery. Lastly, I will protect public education and look for creative ways to ensure our teacher shave the resources they need to effectively lead in a post COVID-19 classroom.”
Steven Woodrow
Steven Woodrow was contacted for comment but did not respond. His website states: “As State Representative, I advocate for social, racial, environmental and economic justice down at the Capitol. Standing up against predatory lenders, unfair credit practices, privacy violators and other powerful interests (including the NRA!) I have a detailed understanding of law and policy, the proven experience of how to make our case most effectively, and unwavering resolve. I’m simply not afraid to compete in the marketplace of ideas in the face of well-funded opposition.”
Woodrow, who is attempting to win re-election, lives in Wash Park with his wife and two sons. Woodrow has served for the past several years as Co-Captain of House District 6B for the Denver Democratic Party.
Go outside at 8 p.m. anywhere in Colorado and you’re guaranteed to hear hundreds, if not thousands, of members from a Colorado-based Facebook group howling to support anyone and everything during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Founders: Shelsea Ochoa and Brice Maiurro founded the howling at the moon movement in support of healthcare workers and first responders in late March. The group has become a way for people to connect during a time when quarantines and shelter-in-place orders have greatly disrupted our way of life.
Founded by partners Shelsea Ochoa and Brice Maiurro in late March, the group has become a way for people to connect during a time when quarantines and shelter-in-place orders have greatly disrupted our way of life.
“It really shows that we can still interact within our communities and have fun while obeying the shelter at home orders, and also release some pent up feelings in a healthy and cathartic way,” Anna Beazer, one of the group’s organizers, told Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle in an email statement.
Ochoa, a performer at Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science, and Maiurro, a poet and activist, got the inspiration to howl from a friend of theirs in Topanga, California, who told the duo that they howl at the sunset together. So, Ochoa and Maiurro decided to give it a try, too. They had no idea that what they considered a “fun social distancing activity” would resonate with people around the country — and the world.
The duo initially intended the group to include about a hundred of the couple’s friends and family. However, once word got out about the group, its membership swelled to over 8,000 members in the first day.
Now, members live in all 50 U.S. states and 46 countries around the world, including Tuvalu, Columbia, and Togo.
“There’s no wrong way to do it,” Ochoa told the Chronicle. “People can subscribe any kind of meaning they want to it.”
Many howl to support the medical professionals working late into the night. Others do it to support the homeless, or in remembrance of a lost loved one. No matter the reason, the group embraces any reason for howling as long as it’s healthy and positive, according to Beazer.
Like Clockwork: Colorado residents have been howling at the moon every night at 8 p.m. as a way to support healthcare workers and first responders.
“The group purposefully is open to interpretations and reasons for howling,” she said. “We didn’t expect the amount of posts and comments dedicating their howling to lost loved ones but we embrace members sharing their stories about them.”
And there is no shortage of stories shared about grief and joy in the group’s discussion. Others purposefully ask seemingly innocuous questions like “What is your favorite quarantine snack?” but receive a wealth of positivity from members in return and connect with others who want to share their similarities.
“I had an accident last year and eventually chose to amputate my leg after several failed surgeries and being basically bedridden for the past year,” Cori Kolhagen, a Colorado resident, posted in one of the discussions.
“I finally accepted my ankle was never going to get better and that this would be the best option for me to return to my active lifestyle. My surgery was on March 3 and I have started to learn how to walk again using a prosthetic. I howl because we can get through this together, as a family.”
Every night, rain or shine, howlers from California to North Carolina, and up to Maine participate. Some howls have been capped off by fireworks or singing similar to the songs Spaniards and Italians sang from their balconies in a show of appreciation for their country’s healthcare workers.
Governor Polis has encouraged Coloradans to participate, calling it a necessary way for people to socialize and connect during this time of isolation.
For Beazer, the group’s message is more primal. It’s about letting go of all the anxieties people have been holding onto since the quarantines began. .
“We get lots of comments from first-time howlers that tell us they didn’t know that simply howling would help them release some emotions from being quarantined and help them feel connected to others when they hear howls back,” she said.
