Announcements

DSA AUDITION PROCESS BEGINS

The Denver School of the Arts wants you to join their family for the 2014-2015 school year. This audition process is open to students entering grades 6-12. The school has 11 arts programs that your student may be interested in, including Band, Creative Writing, Dance, Guitar, Orchestra, Piano, Stagecraft & Design (9-12 only), Theater, Video Cinema, Visual Arts and Vocal Music. Following is the audition timeline for the 2014-2015 school year: Complete an online application between October 21 and November 22 (at noon); Attend the mandatory pre-audition meeting for major of interest; Submit a DPS school of choice form between mid-December and the end of January; and Attend audition (specific times and information will be provided at pre-audition meetings, a general schedule is available online). Visit dsa.dpsk12.org/auditions for more information.

DENVER RECYCLES LEAFDROP PROGRAM

Denver Public Works-Denver Recycles and Ace Hardware encourage residents to compost fallen leaves through Denver’s free LeafDrop program. Composting leaves not only saves space in the landfill but also creates compost for Denver Recycles’ Annual Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale in May. Weekend drop sites will be open for three consecutive weekends – including a drop site at Smiley Middle School at 26th and Holly on Sunday November 10, 17 & 24 from 11am-3pm. Visit DenverGov.org/LeafDrop for a list of participating Ace Hardware stores, which includes the Ace on the Fax, and to print your free paper bag coupon. For more information on this year’s LeafDrop program call 720-865-6810 or visit www.denvergov.org/LeafDrop.

BE WELL HEALTH COVERAGE GUIDANCE

The Stapleton Foundation’s be well Centers are offering health advice about the new health coverage options for individuals and small businesses.  Call 303-468-3228 or email getcovered@stapletonfoundation.org to schedule an appointment or visit the be well center at Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center, 3334 Holly St., open Mondays 4-8pm, Wednesdays, 12-8pm, and Saturdays, 10am-1pm. To learn more about Connect for Health Colorado, visit connectforhealthco.com or bewellconnect.org.

ENERGY ADVISEMENT AND LOANS

Cooler temperatures are on their way, and for many Denver residents that means higher heating costs and the realization that your home may not be as comfortable or as efficient as you want it to be. Fortunately the City and County of Denver provides no-cost energy advising and low-cost energy loans through the Denver Energy Challenge. To date, over 850 of your Park Hill neighbors have participated in this program, and 6,545 citywide. Energy loans are available to finance over 40-plus measures ranging from insulation, water heaters, furnace replacements all the way up to windows and solar. Whether you need a replacement or want to plan for the future energy advisors are here to help. There’s no cost to contact an advisor so don’t delay, contact one today through denverenergy.org or 720-865-5520.

BUSINESSES IN DENVER GOING GREEN 

Have you ever wondered where your food comes from or where your uneaten food goes when it’s cleared from the table at your local restaurant? Thought about the efficiency of lights at the salon you frequent or what packaging your favorite store uses when shipping? Denver’s business community is increasing its sustainable practices and the City is making sure that those businesses not only receive guidance in how they operate sustainably, they are also certifying a variety of business sectors as green: restaurants, office/retail, auto repair, salons, printers and manufacturers. Certifiably Green Denver is a no-cost sustainability program administered by the Department of Environmental Health. If a business needs help implementing practices, a sustainability advisor will provide them with recommendations, and upon completion of these practices they can be certified as a green business. “While our main focus is providing assistance to our business community, we have started to see an increased interest from the community to know if the businesses they frequent are sustainable and how,” said Program Manager Janet Burgesser. For more information on these sustainable practices, and to stay up to date on Denver’s growing green business community visit denvergov.org/cgd.

SNOW BUDDY PROGRAM HELPS SENIORS DIG OUT

The Snow Buddy Program is a partnership between the City and County of Denver and Volunteers of America with the goal of assisting seniors in the community who are unable to complete the difficult task of snow removal. The program connects these seniors with healthy volunteers who are able to assist with the winter snow shoveling in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties. Volunteers or seniors interested in requesting snow removal assistance can visit voacolorado.org, email snowbuddies@voacolorado.org or 720-264-3379.

C-STAHR HEROES NEEDED

C-STAHR is a coalition of local community leaders and health professional students established in 2011 that works to better understand discrimination in healthcare and design programs that reduce its effects. The program is recruiting youth of color, ages 12-18, for its C-STAHR Heroes program, a new, community-based youth program. Through this program, youth participants will improve applicable job skills, be connected with local community leaders and mentors, and will learn about health care, health systems, and advocacy. Participation requires attendance at monthly evening gatherings through April 2014. Graduates of the program may be eligible for scholarships and stipends! Email cstahr.heroes@gmail.com for more information.

SUNSHINE PROJECT BUILDING HARVEST MOBILES

The Sunshine Project has received a Denver Foundation Strengthening Neighborhoods grant  to build a prototype “Harvest Mobile” farm trailer this winter. The organization hopes the mobile will be the first of many to deliver – like an ice cream truck – fresh, organically-grown vegetables throughout the neighborhood next year. The project was inspired by the Four Season Farms’ Veggie Mobile in Maine, and their bicycle designs are inspired by the Mattapan Mobile Farm Stand in Boston and the Permaganic Produce Cart in Cincinatti. The goal is to provide low-income residents with affordable, fresh produce, grown using sustainable and organic methods. In addition, the project hopes to bring together residents, neighborhood organizations and local foodies to learn from each other and share in building something of lasting value for our community. Save the Date for a Veggie Mobile celebration on December 3. For more information, visit the sunshinefoodproject.org.

KIDPRENEURS NEEDED FOR CLAYTON MARKETPLACE

The Kids’ Marketplace invites everyone to come out and support young kidpreneurs at our Annual Kids’ Marketplace at Clayton Early Learning Center in Denver on Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 10am-2pm as they showcase their entrepreneurial spirits with a vast array of goods and services.  The Marketplace provides community youth, ages 5-18, an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of self-employment skills through their innovative and unique products that that include gourmet foods, eco-friendly and upcycled products, holiday and home decor, jewelry, games, pet products and more created by kidpreneurs.   Children interested in participating in the Marketplace should complete a Marketplace Application and submit the same with the $15 booth rental fee to: The Kids’ Marketplace, PO 7220, Denver, CO 80207. All checks should be made payable to “The Kids’ Marketplace.” Applications are also available at kidsmarketplace.com. Vendor Marketplace Applications will be accepted through December 7, 2013. Clayton Early Learning Center is located at the corner of Martin Luther King Blvd. and Colorado Blvd.  For more information and/or vendor applications please contact Tammi at 303-564-8308.

SMITH RENAISSANCE: IN THE GREEN

Smith Renaissance School in North Park Hill is now a “green” school, meaning its School Performance Framework (SPF) ranking is “Meets Expectations” – its ranking has been mostly red since the SPF ranking system began. The school also started the year off with good news regarding its high academic growth as reflected in its TCAP scores. Smith attributes the change in status to many changes within the school, particularly its culture and collaboration. Teachers also attribute the change to their platoon system, which involves students in grades three through five having reading and literacy with one teacher and switching to another teacher for math, science and social studies. Principal Jason Krause said, “I again want to thank all of our families who have stuck by our side during this past several difficult years … We have people coming to visit our school to learn how we did it. We hope they can take something back to their schools so all kids have an opportunity to attend a good school.”