Old-School Holdouts: Treasures Of Denver’s Independent Business Landscape

by Regan Bervar | Jan 24, 2020 | Travel

“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. They are important … for providing us with intellectual stimulation, social interaction, and connection to our communities.” — Robert Spector

The commercial topography of Anytown, America, is changing due to a distinct set of economic circumstances. The buying power of large corporate entities and the low overhead of online retailers are undercutting the profit margins of independent brick-and-mortar businesses. As mom & pop shops give way to big box outlets, national chains and web-based sales platforms, the independent business model is becoming an increasingly difficult equation to balance.

Despite these daunting circumstances, a few independent proprietors have found a way to stand their ground against the seemingly unstoppable tsunami of hospital waiting room-like establishments and soulless, whitewashed, cookie-cutter stores. While Denver’s ongoing transformation into a generic urban sprawl mirrors that of most American cities, a stubborn patchwork of retail holdouts continue to express traits of their 20th Century DNA by operating with distinct, inimitable identities. These holdouts are singular brands that cannot be duplicated or synthesized any more than the personalities of their proprietors could be mimicked, molded or mass-marketed.

This is by no means a comprehensive index, rather, it is a suggestion of infamous standouts across several industries — a list intended to expand the perception of your daily commercial options. Whether you must drive an extra mile, rearrange your schedule to make “normal” store hours or spend an extra buck or two — spending your hard-earned money in businesses with soul is damn well worth it.

Cigars On 6th

(707 E. 6th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)

A circle of ornate, leather-padded chairs await tobacco connoisseurs, humidor aficionados and enraptured novices alike. Visitors can expect knowledgeable advice on the nuances of different cigar brands and can be reassured that at no point will they be harangued by salesy pretense or over-accommodating smarm. You can choose from a world-class selection, light up on the spot and relax into conversation with your companions and other patrons while the game plays in the background on a giant flat screen TV.

Rupp’s Drums

(2045 S. Holly St., Denver, CO 80224)

This retail percussion mecca was originally opened by the infamous Bob Rupp in 1984 and is revered among local musicians and internationally renowned rock stars alike. Just about every stackable square inch of space is occupied by the necessities of the percussive arts. Every member of the sales staff is either a seasoned drummer, an accomplished musician of another sort, a sound engineer or all three. You can expect expert advice on every facet of their product line and practical suggestions based on your specific needs. The difference between shopping here and going to a chain store is the difference between front row seats at your favorite band’s live concert and watching a video of said event shot on a wobbly smartphone.

Wax Trax Records

(620 E. 13th Ave., Denver, CO 80203)

This Capitol Hill landmark has been Denver’s go-to place for recorded music since the early 1980s. Unlike corporate retail stores, the staff are neither instructed nor inclined to adhere to the notion of “the customer is always right.” You will not be bombarded by insincere politeness or overly-helpful attention. Rather, you can expect to be left alone to browse a staggeringly comprehensive offering of music across all genres. The selection of domestic and imported music is unparalleled, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for because you don’t remember the artist’s name or you can’t spell — you may get the idea that you shouldn’t be there in the first place. This mainstay has outlasted several pivotal trends, including the file sharing fiasco, the music pirating era and the Independent Records location that set up shop a few blocks away and recently folded. Wax Trax is currently riding high on the wave of the vinyl record resurgence.

Mutiny Information Cafe

(2 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80209)

A South Broadway landmark for years, this one-of-a-kind bookstore, coffee bar, comic book shop, used record rack and pinball arcade is what some refer to as Denver’s “epicenter of cultural mojo.” Proprietors Matt Meygasi and Jim Norris personally curate every piece of inventory — be it the latest issue of X-MEN or a newly-released, signed album by Steve Earle. You can order a Thai iced tea, an Americano or a matcha tea latte, grab a chair in one of the lounge areas and read, philosophize, play chess, work on your epic poem or just stare at all the shelves and wonder where to begin. Frequent poetry readings, musical performances, book signings and presentations by literary luminaries make this place a shining example of what can happen when you disengage from virtual media and go interact with people the old-fashioned way — in person.

Rockmount Ranch Wear

(1626 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202)

In 1946, “Papa” Jack Weil founded this Denver institution that has organically grown into an international fashion phenomenon. For three generations, these western-themed stylings have enticed blue collar folks, alternative icons, country music legends and rock ’n’ roll superstars. The company has remained family-run since its inception, was passed down to Jack Jr. and is currently run by Papa’s grandson Steve Weil. Their LoDo storefront avails visitors to a museum-like stroll through a rustic setting abundant with western motif, custom embroidered shirts and everyday “ranch” wear. Papa Jack was also the inventor of the snap-up button shirt, which has been endorsed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Steve Buschemi and Elvis Presley. Although internationally acclaimed and often imitated, the store and its wares exude an undeniably genuine appeal to everyday people.

The Wizard’s Chest

(451 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203)

This family-owned gift-shopping paradise that first opened in 1983 has become a Denver institution. This 18,000 square foot behemoth hearkens back to a time when kids’ games were played in actual reality with tangible toys, inspired imaginations and physical human beings. The original Cherry Creek location was moved to South Broadway in 2015 and features, gifts, gags, gadgets and games of every imaginable stripe along with costumes galore and a professional theater makeup department. Such gargantuan retail overhead would spell disaster for a start-up, but decades of building a large clientele has enabled proprietors to leverage their brand loyalty into a real-life community of exciting weekly events. Meetups are held for fledgling magicians, board game experts, Lord of the Rings lovers, Dungeons and Dragons players, Star Wars geeks and much more. Their impressive calendar of constructive extra-curricular engagement is no doubt one of the keys to their long-lived success and a feature that would be impossible to replicate in a corporate bureaucracy.

The new Denver location boasts an assembly line of sparkling, brightly-lit retail facades adorned by careful corporate branding. Yet, a few stalwarts of the old business model dare to offer personality, sincerity and expertise rather than the bland, sterile mediocrity that seems to be all the rage. So, the next time you see a storefront that is not emblazoned with a generic logo that has been burned into your psyche through mainstream marketing, take a chance and pop in. You just might experience what yesterday was commonplace and what tomorrow may be but a dusty memory.

Mushrooms In Boomtown: How Commercial Psilocybin Could Boost Denver’s Economy

by Regan Bervar | Dec 16, 2019 | Travel

“Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”

• Oliver Wendell Holmes

by Luke Schmaltz

On May 14, 2019 Denver’s profile as a one-of-a-kind American city expanded in dimension. Initiative 301 passed by the slimmest of margins (50.6% to 49.4%) which enacted the decriminalization of psilocybin — the active substance in psychedelic mushrooms.

Those who are curious as to what may happen next can refer to the cannabis legalization history book and take note of a few crucial milestones. Firstly, psilocybin is not yet legal, it has simply been demoted to “the lowest legal priority” according to Decriminalize Denver, the grassroots political action group that introduced the measure. This important step toward legalization means that, at some point in the future, anyone over 21 will be able to legally purchase psilocybin mushroom products and services in a retail or clinical setting. Currently the City of Denver’s policy is to devote zero resources to the prosecution of psilocybin with a review panel in place which will intermittently assess public and fiscal impacts of the measure.

Just as the monetization of marijuana continues to prove, when a controlled substance with numerous benefits becomes legal, innovation and entrepreneurship flourish. In the case of psilocybin, however, consumption on a massive scale as in the cannabis industry is tentative, due to the distinct differences between the psilocybin and THC. The greatest of these being that magic mushrooms do not have the same widespread appeal as marijuana. Regardless, impending legalization harkens the creation of a new segment of commerce that will, for a while at least, be unique to the Mile High City.

An Element Of Familiarity

Like the marijuana flower, “magic” mushrooms occur naturally across the world in dozens of strains with varying potencies. Once mature, the dried caps and stems can be consumed raw or added to food and beverages for greater palatability. Also, psilocybin holds great allure for recreational substance users while presenting untold value for the medical and wellness fields.

A New Retail Market

Palatability has long been an issue with psychedelic mushrooms, as most who have partaken attest that chewing the dried fungi is less than pleasant. So, it stands to reason that the first retail products will address this objection — most likely with the same creative gusto seen in the cannabis industry. One can expect chocolate bars infused with “shake” — a term for ground-up mushroom caps and stems. Other anticipations could also include gelatin capsules, peanut butter (creamy or crunchy), green tea bags, jars of honey, pasta sauces, and smoothie-ready fruit medleys — all infused with specific doses per serving of psilocybin. Although tax revenue on these gross sales may pale in comparison to the cannabis numbers, there’s no doubt that this new market will produce jobs and stimulate commerce.

Guided “Trip” Tourism

Once psilocybin can be legally sold and openly consumed, all-inclusive magic mushroom experiences may further expand Colorado’s tourism appeal. These “trip” packages would most likely include measured doses in the preferred method of ingestion, a controlled environment based on the clients’ personal tastes and a shaman-type guide to administer the proper amounts and lead the weekend adventurers through each phase of their journey. These psychedelic retreats could be marketed as self-care vacations and consciousness-expanding getaways.

Alternative Treatment Clinics

The prescription opioid crisis has proven that assigning a pill to every affliction may not be the best long-term strategy. In a search for non-addictive compounds for treating difficult maladies, science and medicine have discovered some compelling therapeutic aspects of psilocybin. Studies by the Heffter Research Institute, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the Beckley Foundation have proven the efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cluster headaches, anxiety and PTSD among other conditions. Upon legalization, health and wellness professionals may be setting up psilocybin therapy practices that treat the root of health problems instead of masking the symptoms.

Peace Of Mind Services

Aside from recreational allure and therapeutic potency, perhaps the greatest benefit magic mushrooms have to offer is inner peace. A 2016 FDA-approved clinical trial called the NYU Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Project revealed that psilocybin had a profoundly positive effect on those struggling with end-of-life issues. Specifically, through measured, guided doses, cancer patients experiencing depression and anxiety in the face of impending death were able to confront their fears and find peace of mind. This profoundly valuable service will no doubt find a robust clientele when psilocybin becomes legal. Palliative care clinics designed to help patients enjoy their final days with clarity and mental tranquility may carve out a significant market share. Rather than being a sad and somber last chapter of life, hospice may present a final opportunity for the dying to celebrate the beauty of life.

Psilocybin has not been decriminalized in America since the 1970s, which puts Denver at the forefront of territory that has been unexplored for the last 50 years or so. With legalization a distinct possibility, so too are the possibilities for new segments of commerce forged by highly valued products and services.

The Winners And Losers Of Legalized Sports Betting In Colorado

by Regan Bervar | Nov 22, 2019 | Travel

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.

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

[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.

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.

The Growing Pains Of Short-Term Rentals In Denver

by Mark Smiley | Oct 28, 2019 | Travel

by Chris DeGusto

The methodology dedicated to handling Denver’s short-term rental (STR) industry is fairly new, as the governing structures used today are from a 2016 city ordinance. Ongoing efforts to find a perfect solution in an imperfect situation — one that makes everyone happy — have been difficult to find. Denver is faced with rapid growth, and this expansion has fallen upon current and future residents to placate.

Almost anyone who has heard of STRs has an opinion about them due to a personal experience of some kind. Yet, multiple people in the Mile-High City have declined to tell their story, and most who elected to share spoke in hushed, prudent tones with lowered eyes. They shot frequent glances around and recounted their anecdotes incompletely.

“I was told not to [speak on the record],” said Rebecca after a pause. “I was told that there could be retaliation. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know, I just think this is much bigger than it appears.”

Rebecca declined to provide her last name. She chose not to elaborate on her remarks, define what she believed retaliation would entail or from whom it could come. A large portion of those who spoke to the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle would not divulge any information at all but acknowledged they were affected in some way.

Denver’s STR conversation has many sides. The business side has provided crucial financial benefits for some. Others have lost faith in their neighborhood’s economic value. But a report released in April by the Denver’s Economic Development and Opportunity Department exhibited that STRs have not had a significant impact on the cost of housing. According to the report, only one percent of Denver’s housing supply is an STR, and revealed weak correlation to local rent increases.

Still, like Rebecca, some are more concerned with how STRs affect daily life in their community.

Sophi told the Chronicle that people have mistakenly tried to enter her home in the middle of the night on multiple occasions, as recently as this month. Intruders on her property were supposed to be at the STR next door where they were staying.

“The dogs woke up and were barking and trying to figure out what was happening — I thought somebody was breaking in,” said Sophi. “I am often alone in the house. It’s not a great feeling to be next to a really drunk [group of] guys or to have people trying our door. I think once you get that many people together who are not all with it, that’s a safety issue.”

Others have expressed similar safety concerns but declined quotation.

Rebecca and Sophi share a home in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood next to a “mega-mansion” of roughly 2,000 square feet. According to Sophi, the property has often hosted bachelor parties where the guests’ goal is to “drink as much as they can and smoke as much as they can.”

As an STR property manager, David Pardo’s “bread and butter” are “big and noisy parties.” Pardo, who has been an STR host for over five years, has managed a combination of properties ranging from one-bedroom apartments to larger townhouses. In an interview with the Chronicle, he said that over 1,600 groups of guests have utilized his properties. Some of these sites have specifically catered to events such as bachelor and bachelorette parties, and Pardo estimated that he has hosted over 100 of these gatherings. These homes are located in areas of commercial use where local zoning laws do not prohibit the operation of business, and downtown, where noise is already generated from local bars and nightlife.

According to Pardo, the vast majority of his guests have not broken any rules established by both the hosting platform and himself. Most of the harm Pardo has experienced caused him personal logistics problems but hasn’t affected close-by residents in any fashion.

“All the neighbors of my properties know exactly what’s going on. They have all the contact info,” said Pardo. “We’ve got all the noise awareness systems, sensors, cameras — we know what’s going on because we don’t want our guests to have a [negative] impact. We build that into our system. That’s not a requirement that the city has. That’s a requirement that I have for myself. It’s personal practice for the sake of my business.”

Not all STRs are in stride with legality. Denver’s 2016 rules state that an STR can only be operated from a primary residence. In June a couple was charged with felonies for running an STR outside of their primary residence.

Denver’s Office of Excise and Licenses spokesman Eric Escudero said in a recent email correspondence with the Chronicle that Denver is not anti-STR and explained how the city has investigated potentially illegal STRs.

“After collecting evidence that shows people are operating an STR that is not their primary residence, Denver frequently sends out an affidavit to suspected illegal STR operators giving them one last opportunity to come clean,” according to Escudero. “If they lie on the affidavit attesting their STR is their primary residence, they could be charged with the crime of influencing a public servant.”

To mediate the STR conversation and push the industry in Denver toward more effective operation, Denver’s Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee (STRAC) has orchestrated the rollout of a dual-phased plan. The first section is focused on updating current language and defining terms such as “primary residence” in a clearer fashion as 2019 concludes.

The Committee’s mission is to “provide guidance and recommendations to Excise and Licenses policies pertaining to the STR licensing program.” They have hosted meetings that encouraged public comment, and members of the Committee include STR hosts, industry stakeholders, residents of the neighborhood and elected city officials.

Hosts of STRs must also obtain licensure to operate lawfully. Denver currently has a 78.3 percent compliance rate, one of the highest in the nation according to the most recent data from the Office of Excise and Licenses. In the same data set is the compliance rate of other major cities: Nashville, 59 percent; New Orleans, 58 percent; San Francisco, 42 percent; Austin, 18 percent.

And while complaints about STRs are the most common to the Office of Excise and Licenses, this data has shown that Denver has displayed positive trends. STRAC provided data at their October meeting as well; complaints about STRs to the 311-information hotline have gone down from 92 in 2018, to 72 as of October 2019.

Phase two of STRAC’s plan is set to roll out as 2020 hits its second quarter. Their proposed plans included finding the best practices and legal parameters for property management requirements, as well as working with other cities to draft effective new language centered around platform accountability.

Industries that have thrived due to STRs have taken a hit. Joyful Soul Cleaning’s owner Kayla Darling has operated her business within STRs. She has been able to create jobs for many others in part due to rental properties and joined the conversation with the hopes of changing peoples’ hearts and minds but told the Chronicle that she has lost business due to the decrease in rental properties.

“It’s definitely important to me that our voices are heard, so that we can say, hey we want to work with the city, we want to work with the communities to make [the STR business] a positive experience for everyone that we can,” said Darling. “But then also, we don’t want half of to go away.”

According to the Office of Excise and Licenses, the number of unique property listings has dropped 21 percent since last October, and 158 applications for licensure withdrawn since April. Additionally, the total number of active licenses has gone up 24 percent. This provides evidence that more residents have looked to follow compliance rules, but less have listed their homes as an STR.

One thing is clear: the growing pains of Denver’s STR industry can only be cured with efforts from all sides.

“Please, in all of this just consider that there’s a very large portion of [STR] hosts that want to help,” said Joe (who declined to give his last name). “I’m trying to assume some of the responsibilities, and some of it is — we simply don’t even know [about complaints]. I’ll tell you this. There’s change coming from the host community. We’re taking more responsibility, we’re stepping up.”

Redirecting The Waste Stream: Seven Ways Denver Residents Can Strengthen Their Role In Recycling

by Regan Bervar | Sep 23, 2019 | Travel

by Luke Schmaltz

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

 — Albert Einstein

The importance of recycling seems, to some degree, to have taken a back seat to the divisive nature of the global warming argument. Yet, regardless of how you choose to process scientific evidence about carbon emissions and the rising temperature of the planet, the fact remains that civilization is producing massive amounts of trash. Further, some (not all) of the elements which end up in the landfill do so unnecessarily, and can better serve the greater economic good by being redirected back into the consumer commodities market.

Understand The Economics

Recycling is a bipartisan-friendly notion. From a purely fiscal standpoint, there are significant, trackable levels of energy savings that occur with specific types of materials such as aluminum and paper. The Reynolds Metal Company reports that making aluminum cans from their recycled counterparts takes 95 percent less energy than manufacturing them from raw aluminum bauxite. Meanwhile, the American Forest and Paper Association reports that recycling one ton of paper saves 7,000 gallons of water and enough energy to power the everyday household for six months.

Consider The Environmental Angle

From an anti-pollution approach, according to denvergov.org, the average family can lower greenhouse gas emissions by 340 pounds of carbon equivalent per year by simply recycling all of its mixed plastic waste. Also, the Glass Packaging Institute offers further eco-friendly evidence by reporting that glass recycling can reduce water pollution by 20% and air pollution by 50%. These stats are backed by the National Recycling Coalition, which reports that eight to 10 major types of water and air pollutants can be reduced through recycling. Plus, less garbage means less land that must be allocated for landfills.

Choose Your Facts And Act

The key to reducing the financial and environmental burden of unnecessary waste lies in the average citizen adopting a mindset of cyclic thinking in exchange for cause-and-effect behavior. This means integrating recycling into your long-term habits and routines rather than practicing it as an afterthought once the trash has already been produced. Whether you are driven by economic practicality or eco-friendly concern, here are seven ways you can do your part to expand the effort to reduce waste that is unnecessarily dumped into the ground.

Buy Recycled

Purchasing products that are made from or packaged in recycled materials helps increase the demand within this segment of the consumer product market. These can be paper goods, building materials made from recycled plastic and steel, refilled printer cartridges, activewear, smartphone covers and tote bags — just to name a few.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bags)

Speaking of bags, you can greatly reduce paper and plastic waste by supplying your own means of getting your groceries home. The Recycling pages on denvergov.org repeatedly state that plastic bags cannot be recycled because they jam up the materials sorting machinery. That’s right — all plastic bags, even though you can reuse them once or twice around the house — eventually end up in the landfill. If everyone stopped relying on them, demand for landfill space could be systematically reduced.

Decontaminate Containers

Food containers that are placed in the recycle bin without first being rinsed out introduce contaminants into the process as the organic material begins to decompose. You can reduce the amount of items which end up in the landfill because they are full of food residue by giving items such as yogurt cartons, jelly jars, tin cans and juice bottles a sufficient rinse before recycling. This scenario includes the ever-present and confounding pizza box. While the box bottom, if covered in grease and residue, cannot be recycled — it can be composted by cutting it into small pieces and placing it in your backyard facility. Meanwhile, the box lid, as long as it is grease-free, can always be recycled.

Purchase Less Packaging

Your shopping protocol can involve a “buy less packaging” approach by making a plan ahead of time to curtail old habits in the produce section. Specifically, by choosing to not place fruits and vegetables which you plan to wash anyway into plastic bags as you pick them off the shelf. You can also choose products in compostable packaging (as indicated on the label) and you can buy items you consume regularly in bulk.

Donate Don’t Discard

Unwanted goods such as furniture, household items, cooking utensils and clothing do not have to be thrown away — especially if they are still functional or can be easily repaired. By taking them to your local thrift store, they can be reappropriated by someone who needs them instead of winding up in the landfill while still having value.

Maximize Organic Matter

According to the EPA, 30% of everything people throw away is comprised of food and yard waste. Grasscycling and composting are excellent ways of reducing the amount of plastic bags and fuel needed to haul away grass clippings and uneaten scraps. In turn, you are helping to save landfill space by placing organic matter in your own backyard — which enriches the soil, reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and lowers your carbon footprint by decreasing methane emission from the landfill.

Go Out Of Your Way

If you’re already a proactive Denver recycler, you may have more items than can fit in your purple recycle bin. If this is the case, you can access the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off facility for overflow items that do not belong in the landfill as well as compostable materials such as food scraps and yard clippings. This is a service for Denver residents only, not for commercial entities.

In the realm of environmental issues, there are some areas where opinions are not unanimous. When it comes to recycling, however, any way you look at it (especially not facing downward into the landfill) makes practical, economic, eco-friendly sense.

CHUN Celebrates 50 Years With Wine Tasting Event At Botanic Gardens

by Mark Smiley | Aug 23, 2019 | Travel

By Mark Smiley

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN) has played a vital role in shaping neighborhoods by providing a unified voice to the City of Denver and Colorado state governments since 1969. Those who are not familiar with this organization need look no further than the trees that are planted along 13th and 14th Avenue. CHUN was instrumental IN having those planted.

To commemorate 50 years in the community, CHUN will host a fundraising event at Denver Botanic Gardens to celebrate its half century. The 50th Anniversary Celebration and Wine Tasting is open to the public and its members and residents of the Capitol Hill community on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 5:30-9 p.m.

In addition to an evening with Denver leaders and neighborhood advocates, the event will feature a wine tasting, light hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, and a silent auction, showcasing goods and services from local businesses. CHUN is seeking help from local businesses to sponsor the event WITH silent auction donations, underwriting support, and other in-kind goods or services.

Fifty years ago, CHUN was founded to take on the most pressing issues facing Denver and its neighborhoods. Since then, the organization has evolved into one of the Mile High City’s largest registered neighborhood organizations (RNO) dedicated to strengthening and elevating the voices of residents and neighbors.

The Board is comprised of members of 10 different RNOs, including Congress Park, Cherry Creek North, Country Club, Cheesman Park and Uptown. The boundaries of CHUN are 22nd Avenue to 1st Avenue, and Colorado Blvd. to Broadway.

“I’ve served on a lot of boards,” said Bruce Caughey, CHUN Board Member. “There is more commitment to this board than almost any board I’ve ever been on in terms of participation and expressing opinions. It’s really a great opportunity if you want to get involved in your neighborhood and make a difference. That’s what CHUN represents.”

This board is rolling up its sleeves to come up with a plan for the Tears-McFarlane House, a 120-year-old mansion that was gifted to CHUN by the City of Denver a few years ago. The building requires some restoration and ongoing upkeep,” said Travis Leiker, President, Board of Delegates for Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Inc. “We tapped the experts in this work to help us revitalize this property. We’ve done focus groups, surveys on the park, and engaged the community to help us reconceptualize and visualize what can be done with this space. We just released the results of that research which indicates that most people want this to remain a community gathering space but with additional amenities. The next phase of this will be how we revamp this property to both fuel CHUN’s operations as a community group, but also activate portions of the property for the betterment of the community.”

CHUN advocates for smart zoning and land use, innovative transportation systems, the protection of historic landmarks, promoting community safety and championing city beautification. As Denver moves further into the 21st century, this organization is committed to being collaborative and solution oriented, by building strong relationships with community stakeholders and serving as a go-to resource for Denver citizens.

Membership to CHUN is $75/year per household, $180/year per business, and $30/year for individuals. For a list of benefits, visit www.chundenver.org/membership. For more information on the 50th Anniversary event visit www.chundenver.org/chun50.