by Mark Smiley | May 19, 2026 | Glendale City News
by Mark Smiley
Denver families will have a chance to step into the worlds of Frozen, Encanto, Moana, and other Disney favorites later this year as Disney On Ice brings its newest production, Find Your Hero, to Ball Arena for a three-day run in November.
The traveling ice show will perform six shows from Nov. 13–15, offering a mix of classic Disney storytelling, figure skating, music, and large-scale stage production designed for family audiences.
The production features appearances from Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, who guide audiences through scenes inspired by some of Disney’s most recognizable films. This year’s show includes characters from newer hits such as Encanto and Moana, alongside longtime favorites including Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Frozen, and Lilo & Stitch.
Organizers say the show focuses on themes of courage, family, perseverance, and self-discovery. Audiences will follow Mirabel’s efforts to save her family’s magical home in Encanto, Moana’s ocean voyage with Maui, and Anna and Elsa’s journey to protect Arendelle in Frozen.
Disney On Ice productions have remained a longtime family attraction in Denver, regularly drawing large crowds to Ball Arena during holiday and winter entertainment seasons. The performances combine professional skating with theatrical lighting, digital effects, oversized set pieces, and elaborate costumes.
Showtimes are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13; 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14; and 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Tickets go on sale to the general public May 19 through Ticketmaster, with presale opportunities already available for Disney On Ice subscribers and preferred customers.
In addition to standard admission, attendees can purchase a VIP Magical Pass package that includes premium seating, early venue access, a character meet-and-greet before the performance, and commemorative merchandise.
Ball Arena is located at 1000 Chopper Circle in downtown Denver.
For additional information and ticket availability, families can visit DisneyOnIce.com/find-your-hero/denver-co-ball-arena.
Feld Entertainment photos
by Valley Gadfly | Apr 17, 2026 | Glendale City News
by Glen Richardson
Ryan Tuchscherer
Kim Umbarger
Dario Katardzic
Voters in Glendale have selected four candidates to serve on the City Council following a the April 7, 2026, municipal election that saw tight margins among the top finishers.
Ryan Tuchscherer led the field with 109 votes, followed closely by Kim Umbarger with 104 votes, and Mark Smiley with 102. Dario Katardzic secured the final winning seat with 97 votes.
Elizabeth Bonney, who received 28 votes, was not elected.
The results reflect a competitive race, with just 12 votes separating the top four candidates and underscoring the importance of every ballot in Glendale’s engaged electorate.
The newly elected council members will help guide city policy on key local issues, including development, public safety, and community services. Their terms come at a time when Glendale continues to navigate growth pressures and evolving priorities within the Denver metro area.
Voter turnout remained modest, consistent with past municipal elections in smaller cities, but the close margins highlighted strong community interest in local leadership.
With the election decided, attention now turns to how the incoming council will collaborate on shaping Glendale’s future and addressing the needs of residents and businesses alike.
by Jessica Hughes | Apr 1, 2026 | Glendale City News
by Jessica Hughes
Goodwill of Colorado helps support people and its communities through 25 workforce and community programs.
Thrifting has re-emerged as a popular trend driven by a shift toward sustainable, eco-conscious, and budget-friendly choices. According to Goodwill’s annual reporting, Goodwill Industries reached record revenue of $7 billion in 2025 across its more than 3,400 North American stores, fueled by a 7% increase in sales. Much of that growth has been driven by younger shoppers, including Gen Z and millennial consumers, who increasingly view thrifting as both economical and sustainable.
“There’s less of a stigma attached to shopping second-hand; that perception has flipped completely,” says Stephanie Bell, the brand manager of Goodwill of Colorado. “Now, there is more of a status and cache in finding a unique item. People love the thrill of a thrift and saving money at the same time.” And as prices continue to climb across the country, many shoppers are turning to secondhand stores as a practical way to stretch their budgets, putting stores like Goodwill right in the center of this trend.
Yet beyond the bins of donated goods and the shopping among a treasure trove of unique items, there is an organization with a broader mission. Goodwill retail stores are part of a nonprofit system designed to support individuals, families, and communities by funding a wide range of programs and services that help people find employment, build job skills, and pursue education.
Shopper thrifting at the Glendale Goodwill store.
Goodwill of Colorado, the state’s oldest thrift operation with a nonprofit mission, reinvests much of its revenue into these programs that support local communities. “About 90 cents of every $1 made goes back into the community,” says Bell.
Goodwill of Colorado operates 25 workforce and community programs across the state, supporting more than 143,000 Coloradans in 2024 alone, including veterans, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those who have experienced incarceration.
One of the organization’s most notable initiatives is the Excel Center in Aurora. The school is the state’s first tuition-free high school for adults, developed through a partnership with the Colorado Department of Education, and offers adults the opportunity to earn a high school diploma at no cost, along with childcare, career coaching, and flexible scheduling designed for adult learners. Since launching in Colorado, the Excel Center has graduated a growing number of students, with more than 100 earning diplomas since August 2024 alone.
Patrick Spaulding and his team at the Leetsdale Goodwill store in Glendale.
Working alongside Goodwill’s Career Development Services, the ReHire Colorado program helps individuals facing barriers to employment successfully return to the workforce. Today, more than 3,000 people are employed by Goodwill across the state, many through the organization’s fair-chance hiring practices that prioritize opportunities for those who might otherwise struggle to find work. According to Goodwill, roughly two-thirds of its social enterprise employees reported experiencing a barrier to employment before joining the organization — challenges that can include disabilities, language barriers, past incarceration, or extended gaps in work history.
The impact of these programs is often evident in the stores themselves. At the Goodwill location on Leetsdale Drive, serving the Glendale and Cherry Creek communities, about 55 employees make up a workforce rich in diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Team members speak six or seven different languages, and the staff includes refugees, individuals with disabilities, and people working to rebuild their careers after incarceration.
Patrick Spaulding, the store’s manager, said providing opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. “We hired a refugee from Chad who speaks very little English, and this was her first job in America,” Spaulding said. “Just because you don’t speak English doesn’t mean you can’t work.”
Spaulding also recounts many success stories of the store’s employees who have turned their lives around through career advancements within the organization, as well as four individuals who came through partner programs like CW STEP (Colorado Works Subsidized Training and Employment Program) — one of several programs that collectively saw more than 43,000 individuals in 2024 receive free job training, career coaching, and placement for those with financial challenges and who haven’t been in the workplace for a while.
The stores themselves rely heavily on community donations. Clothing and textiles make up roughly 60% of donated goods, while electronics are among the least commonly donated items.
Goodwill of Colorado Déjà Blue Boutique in Cherry Creek — the only Goodwill boutique in Colorado.
“There are very few things we don’t take,” Spaulding said.
For shoppers and donors alike, that means everyday choices can have a ripple effect. Donating unwanted items keeps usable goods out of landfills, while shopping secondhand helps fund programs that support education, job training, and employment opportunities across Colorado.
It turns out that what is better for the planet is also better for local communities and improving people’s lives.
So, the next time you consider throwing something away — or buying something new — it may be worth remembering that a donated sweater or a thrifted find can do more than save money. It can help support your community.
by Jessica Hughes | Feb 18, 2026 | Glendale City News
Book Review —
by Jessica Hughes
Katie Vieira is an educator, wife, mother of three, and now a published author. Into the Field is Vieira’s first book.
Monitoring children’s screen time has become one of the most pressing challenges facing parents today, often compared to regulating sugar intake or substance exposure. Where the 1990s urged families to “D.A.R.E.” kids to avoid drugs, today’s battle is often centered on limiting time spent in front of screens. Which is why, Katie Vieira, an educator, wife, and mother of three wants to help children and their parents combat screen addiction by turning to the outdoors with her debut book, Into the Field.
Vieira began noticing the impact of that struggle firsthand when her two daughters showed increasing dependence on digital devices. “I started to notice my kids were constantly asking for it. That’s all they wanted to do,” says Vieira. “No matter how many times I would give the warning to turn off screens, they threw tantrums and became completely distraught.”
She recalls frequent power struggles, especially with her oldest daughter, over getting outside — an early warning sign that prompted concern. “They showed symptoms of digital addiction like difficulty disengaging from technology, mood swings, declining interest in offline activities, compulsive asking for the technology.”
Digital Addiction, as defined by the National Institutes of Health, is identified as functionally equivalent to all addictions, characterized by the compulsive, habitual, and uncontrolled use of digital devices and an excessively repeated engagement in a particular online behavior.
Wanting to help combat her kid’s digital addiction, Vieira focused on creating structures around screen time while intentionally prioritizing outdoor time. They avoid using iPads for education, treat screen time as shared family time, and use technology as a tool for connection rather than distraction. She acknowledges that balance is difficult to maintain. “It’s hard. It’s a slippery slope because it’s easy to say, ‘just put a show on’ but we can’t necessarily get away from it.”
Katie Vieira and her family.
The idea for the book emerged during one of the busiest seasons of Vieira’s life. She was pregnant with her third child while moving across the country before settling in Colorado. During that transition, as her daughters adjusted to a new home and homeschooling, Vieira noticed signs of digital addiction becoming more pronounced. Determined to help them form connections and spend more time outside, she discovered the 1,000 Hours Outside Challenge, which encourages families to match screen time with outdoor time. The challenge responds to data showing children spend roughly 1,000 hours per year on screens — about 2.5 hours per day.
Into the Field is a nature-based adventure story designed to help kids and their parents combat screen addiction through outdoor play. It follows two young sisters — modeled after Vieira’s daughters — who embark on an outdoor adventure to save a friend from screen addiction. Vieira describes the story as portraying an extreme version of the problem. “They are having to save their friend from the video game.” Colorful illustrations by Vieira’s cousin bring the adventure to life, with scenes set amid the landscapes of Tennessee.
The writing process became a family affair. “My girls not only inspired the story, but they actually played a role in writing it,” says Vieira. “I would jot down chapters based off hikes we had just done, after the kids went to bed, and the next morning I would read them the chapter I wrote. They would give some insight on what the kids should wear and sometimes say in certain situations.”
Into the Field is an adventure story designed to help kids and their parents combat screen addiction through outdoor play.
As former classroom teacher with a master’s degree in education, Vieira homeschools her children and emphasizes that technology itself is not the enemy. “I am aware that it is 2026 and still have to use the technology,” she says. “It’s about learning to keep it in their lives in a balanced way.”
She describes the book as magical, adventurous, and family-focused, with a central goal of inspiring outdoor play and creativity. “We have to allow for boredom and force them to be creative without their screens,” she says. “Going outside, allows them to tap into those creative outlets. Allowing them to be imaginative without the stimulus of screens.”
Into the Field is Vieira’s first book, and she has already begun work on the second installment — called Colorado Campground. She plans for the project to become a series, with each book set in a different state. Inspired by her educational background, Vieira also sees Into the Field as a classroom-friendly resource for teachers and parents alike. “My goal is to try and showcase the different biomes across the country, from beaches to mountains,” says Vieira. “I want to weave in social studies and science without the kids really knowing or realizing.”
Through storytelling, geography, and outdoor exploration, Vieira hopes the book series will quietly blend multiple curricula — reading comprehension, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning — while encouraging families to step away from screens and back into the natural world.
Alongside the book, she is also releasing compilation guides and accompanying activities that relate back to each chapter via her Instagram page. You can follow her at @intothefieldbook.
She will also be at the Barnes & Noble in Glendale for a book signing on March 22, from 1-3 p.m. You can also reach out to her directly at intothefield@gmail.com.
by Valley Gadfly | Jan 16, 2026 | Glendale City News
From Botanic Garden’s Orchid Showcase To Sista Soul At Dazzle, There’s Loving Possibilities
by Glen Richardson
Thanks to love songs, poetry, music, movies, and art, the language of love seems to be constantly expanding, and what better time to brush up on the myriad ways to express your love and affection than this year’s holiday?
Glendale-Cherry Creek, and metro Denver offer a romantic, picture-perfect place to celebrate your love relationships. There’s a variety of romantic events and date activities all month long. Choose from music and performing arts, plus places to dine with your partner, kids, family, or loved ones to show them how much you care.
For romantic things to do with your loved one this month, the Denver Botanic Gardens offers great choices. Make a date to view exotic orchid blooms during the Denver Botanic Garden’s Orchid Showcase Feb. 10-17, 9 a.m-5 p.m.
Captivating Colors
Musical Glamour: Pink Martini and the Colorado Symphony entertain at Boettcher Concert Hall Feb. 13-14.
Pops of purple, bursts of buttery yellow, flashes of fuchsia — orchids are bright, charismatic, and just a little strange. These botanical wonders are as diverse as they are dazzling, and their vibrant blooms are the perfect antidote to the winter blues.
Dive into the captivating world of orchids on view in the Botanic Garden’s Marnie’s Pavilion and the Orangery. You’ll view hundreds of spectacular blooms from all over the world, including specimens from the Gardens’ collection. The Orchid Showcase is a visual feast of shapes, color, and texture, not to be missed in the dead of winter.
Connect with your kids during the Garden’s Make & Take Valentine event, Feb. 10-14. You’ll learn the shapes, textures, and colors of dried flowers, leaves, and seeds, plus how to use them to decorate a Valentine’s Day ornament. Information: 720-865-3500.
Pink Martini
Spend time with your Valentine enjoying Pink Martini and the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall Feb. 13-14, 7:30 p.m. Brimming with “fizzy spirit and breezy sophistication,” Pink Martini is a glamorous and global phenomenon.
The exhilarating evening will feature a mix of Brazilian samba, Parisian café music, cabaret, and vintage jazz. The show will feature Storm Large as lead singer.
Romantic Recital: Grammy winning soprano Heidi Melton sings “Love Stories,” at the Newman Center Feb. 13.
Now in their 31st year of performing, Pink Martini was founded by bandleader-pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale in 1994 to provide beautiful and inclusive performances at fundraisers and galas. The musical style was inspired by Latin, big band, classical, and the Golden Age of Hollywood. With the Colorado Symphony and Christopher Dragon on the podium, this promises to be a Valentine’s Day weekend to remember. Information: 720-865-4220.
Sista Soul At Dazzle
Titled “Reflections of Love,” Sista Soul and her band plays a blend of R&B and soul with modern hip-hop, as Dazzle celebrates Valentine’s Day Feb. 13, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Backed by her band, she delivers a captivating mix of R&B grooves, heart-stirring ballads, and timeless classics that invite you to sing along and reminisce. The evening features tracks from her Grammy album Soul Reflections, plus fan favorites from Celebration, and iconic R&B songs, along with a few surprises.
With a voice that is both powerful and tender, Sista Soul transforms each performance into a deeply moving experience filled with love, healing, and joy. This Valentine’s weekend, head for Dazzle in the DCPA complex on 14th Street to feel the music, share the moment, and leave with your heart full and your spirit lifted. Information: 203-839-5100.
Soprano Melton
Love Jogging: If running is your love language, participate in the Valentine’s Day 4 Mile at Wash Park Feb. 8.
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, join Grammy winning soprano Heidi Melton and pianist Sahar Nouri for “Love Stories,” a recital of passion, longing, and devotion. Performing in the Hamilton Recital Hall at the Newman Center, the program features Wagner’s radiant “Wesendonck Lieder” alongside other works that explore the many shades of love Feb. 13, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Information: 303-871-7720.
With a voice that is “big, gleaming, and tonally resplendent,” Melton has sung at the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Deutsche Opera Berlin, plus many more. She has also performed with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Scottish Symphony, and many others.
Iranian pianist Sahar Nouri, has been Music Director of Lamont Opera Theater at the University of Denver since 2019. She has also served at Opera Colorado as chorus master-assistant conductor since 2016.
Dakota Blonde Concert
Sweet Sounds: Dakota Blonde — dubbed the “Front Range darlings,” — do their Valentine Concert at Swallow Hill Feb. 14.
Dakota Blonde — dubbed the “Front Range darlings,” — do their annual Valentine Concert at Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall Feb. 14, 8 p.m. Made up of Mary Huckins, Don Pinnella, and Tony Raddell, they have received honors for their songwriting, CD projects, and performances across the country and internationally. Information: 303-777-1003.
Also known as “the sweetest acoustic sound around,” the group met through their careers in Music Therapy, working with children and adolescents. All three come from musical families, and their charm stems both from the music they play and from the family feeling they bring into any concert hall or venue. Their shows are very personal and sincere.
They will be joined for the concert by “The Valentine Band,” made up of some of Colorado’s finest musicians. The group includes Ernie Martinez, Gordon Burt, and Kristi Bartleson. Recently honored as the International Western Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year, Martinez plays mandolin, banjo, and dobro. Gordon Burt is on fiddle and viola. He has played, toured, and recorded with many Colorado artists. Harpist Kristi Bartleson has performed with the Eastman Symphony in Carnegie Hall and for the Heidelberg Opera Festival in Germany. She has also played with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and with the Colorado Ballet.
Other Options
Love Blossoms: Make a date to view exotic orchid blooms during the Denver Botanic Garden’s Orchid Showcase Feb. 10-17.
There’s also a Valentine’s Day Concert playing the best of Mozart and Beethoven at Trinity United Methodist Church February 6, 6:30 p.m. In addition, Wings Over the Rockies features string quartet the Range Ensemble on Feb. 15, 6:15 and 8:30 p.m.
Guitarist and vocalist Lorian Bartle celebrates Valentine’s Day playing popular traditional and classical favorites at the Lone Tree Arts Center Feb. 19, 1:30 p.m. Information: 720-509-1000.
If running is your love language, you won’t want to miss the Valentine’s Day 4 Mile at Wash Park Feb. 8, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Event includes a Cupid’s Kids Fun Run. A costume contest begins at 10 a.m. followed by awards.
by Valley Gadfly | Nov 17, 2025 | Glendale City News
District Is Bustling With Fun, Excitement; Santa’s In The Loop For Saturday Night Lights
by Glen Richardon
Santa Sightings: Santa and local landmarks are among the sights you’ll see as drones soar across the sky all month long, 7 p.m.
There’s no place like Glendale-Cherry Creek North, and the Mile High City during the holidays. Cherry Creek’s over-the-top festivities are bright and jolly enough to convert even the biggest grinch.
With a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine in hand, take in the decorative window displays, dazzling lights, holiday markets, and family-friendly activities happening in Cherry Creek and throughout the Mile High City.
Whether you’re indulging in festive Cherry Creek dining, cozying up with a cocktail at the Mistletoe Lounge on Fillmore Plaza, or simply taking in the view, the district is a must-see holiday destination. A million dazzling lights are wrapped around more than 600 trees, illuminating the entire neighborhood.
Holiday Market
Creek Magic: Take the family to Cherry Creek North to see the decorative window displays, dazzling lights, and holiday market.
As December blankets Cherry Creek in a frosty glow, the district comes alive with the spirit of the holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s celebrations that are nothing short of magical. Experience the joy of the season with Winter Wanderland, a collection of free outdoor events for all to enjoy.
The Cherry Creek Holiday Market is open on Fillmore Plaza through Dec. 24. Spend the day shopping under dazzling lights, listening to live music, and getting into the seasonal spirit.
You’ll discover one-of-a-kind pieces from 50+ local makers, designers, and creators. There’s also “Giving Machines” through Jan. 4 that don’t dispense snacks or drinks, but instead, opportunities to donate to those in need. It’s also where the Mistletoe Lounge — a Christmas bar with festive drinks — is located.
Festivities also include “Saturday Night Lights,” Dec. 6, 13, and 20. On those dates you can enjoy complimentary treats, and the kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. There’s also a Chanukah Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 14 hosted by Chabad of Cherry Creek. Families and guests of all ages will enjoy a fun “festival of lights” with face painting, fire juggling, festive treats, and crafts.
Blossom Of Lights
Bright Nights: Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens through Jan. 11 is one of the nation’s top light shows.
While in the Cherry Creek area, don’t miss the Blossoms of Light at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Nov. 21-Jan. 11. It’s consistently lauded as one of the top holiday light shows in the nation. Wander a mile-long path through immersive, luminous displays that accentuate and highlight the plant collections. A cherished holiday tradition for nearly four decades, Blossoms of Light is constantly evolving to inspire wonder and delight for visitors.
Zoo Lights, the Denver Zoo’s 30th annual “wildest winter wonderland” is Nov. 23-Jan. 5. A holiday treat for the kids and grown-ups alike, the zoo has some 3,500 animals, including almost 650 species. During the festival, the zoo is decorated as a winter wonderland where you can stroll illuminated paths enjoying holiday entertainment, music corners, warming stations, plus food and drinks.
Stroll over to the City & County Building in Civic Center Park to watch the lights display running all season long! The light and music show repeats nightly from at 5:45 pm and 6:45 pm, except for December 6 and December 21. Added dazzle: Look up in the sky now through Dec. 31 for this year’s Mile High Drown Show “Grand Illumination.” The display of 400 drones will soar across the sky every night from the Tivoli Quad at 7 p.m. You’ll see everything from Santa and his reindeer, to iconic Denver landmarks like the Mile High Tree and Union Station.
Dashing Thru LoDo
Just steps apart, Dairy Block, McGregor Square, and Union Station are brimming with festive activities, dazzling lights, and family fun. Celebrate the magic of the season with Holiday on the Block, an extensive line-up of festive events on the Dairy Block including a local makers market, entertainment, live music, plus winter art installations.
Festive Sights: With a 40-ft.-tall Christmas tree out front, Denver’s Union Station is a popular holiday destination.
Over at Union Station, the Grand Illumination is a can’t-miss spectacular, lighting up the historic landmark. The sparkling displays are perfect for capturing holiday memories, and the ongoing lights make every night feel like a celebration.
McGregor Square is also a winter wonderland this season, offering ice skating under the twinkling lights, festive cocktails to warm your spirits, and special visits with Santa himself. It’s an ideal spot to soak up the holiday magic with friends and family.
Hanukkah
The Jewish holiday “Festival of Lights” known as Hanukkah — also spelled Chanukah — is December 14 to 22 this year.
The Jewish Community Center’s annual “Latkes & Lights” is Dec. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature themed games, jamming to live music, and tasting latkes from Denver restaurants, plus those made by community members. There will also be voting by attendees on handmade menorahs.
Chanukah @ The Capitol is also on Dec. 7, 5 p.m. to 11:50 p.m. The event features a 10-foot Menorah, a Dreidel Drop, plus free barbecue. Temple Emanuel hosts Hanukkah Hoopla Dec. 27, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There’s a community menorah lighting followed by service, a dinner, and a concert. Finally, Chabad of Cherry Creek is hosting a second Chanukah Celebration Dec. 29, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will be Chanukah activities at participating neighborhood stores, a Grand Menorah lighting, plus Fire Show.
New Year’s Eve
Mall Fireworks: See fireworks on the 16th St. Mall New Year’s Eve, 9 p.m. and again at midnight.
The two-night electronic dance music festival Decadence is at the Convention Center Dec. 30 and 31. Zeds Dead, Subtronics, and Tape B will perform together for the first time ever Dec. 30.
Noon Year’s Eve returns to the Children’s Museum featuring the glitz and glam of New York City’s Times Square before bedtime! There’s a ball drop at the top of every hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., plus music, and treats. Dazzle’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza “Nostal-Jazz” rings in the New Year at the Performing Arts Complex downtown 10 p.m.
The New Year’s Eve bash “Fire & Ice” is at the Fire Restaurant’s outdoor rooftop patio in the Art Hotel, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. A Night in Vienna returns to Boettcher Concert Hall New Year’s Eve playing rousing polkas, waltzes, and marches, 7 p.m. See the New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the 16th St. Mall Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. and again at midnight.
