Community Announcements – Aug 2012

2012 Proved a Fruitful Garden Walk
While attendance was down from last year’s event, in part due to four other metro area garden tours scheduled for the same day, the June 16 Park Hill Garden Walk still saw around 425 people come out by bike, car and foot to visit the 12 participating home gardens. The event raised $5,696 for the Greater Park Hill Community organization. GPHC gives thanks to the volunteer members of the Garden Walk committee: Angelia McLean, Ann Long, Barb Armendariz, Bill Bettag, Catherine Byrne, Helen Quinn and Micki Amick.

Voting Still Open on U.S. Soccer Foundation Grant for Holly Square
A team of northeast Denverites has been working to turn the vacant lot between Hudson and Holly streets and 33rd and 35th avenues into the Holly Square Children’s Corridor, with soccer fields and basketball courts, in order to provide a much-needed playground for area youth. The Prodigal Son Initiative has already generated grants for the project through local businesses, contractors and the Piton Foundation. An additional grant is in the works through the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s “Soccer Field of Dreams” initiative. Place your vote by visiting facebook.com/ussoccerfoundation and scrolling down to “like” the July 18th Holly Square post. The Park Hill community recently benefited from another U.S. Soccer Foundation grant through their “Soccer for Success” initiative to combat childhood obesity, which the Colorado Fusion Soccer Club received and contributed in part to build new soccer goals at the Park Hill Elementary School. The Holly Square courts will be built alongside the future site of the Nancy P. Anschutz Boys & Girls Club, which breaks ground September 2012 and is slated for completion within a year. For more information, visit prodigalsoninc.org.

Peaches Benefit Smiley’s Conflict Center
Smiley Middle School and the Cherry Creek Rotary Club are hosting a peach fundraiser to benefit the school’s Conflict Center. Smiley’s Conflict Center uses trained and experienced staff to help teachers, students and staff use techniques to resolve conflict and create a stronger community within the school. Peaches can be ordered through August 17, and can be picked up on August 25th at the school. Download the order form at smiley.dpsk12.org.

Venture Prep Yard Sale to Benefit Class of 2013
Incoming Venture Prep seniors Jamariah Johnson, Tomas Manriquez and Tyonka Washington are spearheading a yard sale to raise funds for the year’s senior events, including: an Outward Bound excursion, homecoming, prom, graduation and honors awards night. Donations are welcome starting Monday, August 6th and the yard sale will take place on Saturday, August 11th at 25th and Holly from 8 a.m. For more information, contact Molly at 303-893-0805.

The Park Hill Neighborhood Guidebook Reprint Event Now Features Author-led Tour
To celebrate the reprinting of the Park Hill Neighborhood guidebook, authors Tom Noel and Bill Hansen, in connection with Historic Denver, will lead a walking tour and book signing event from 3 to 5 p.m. beginning and ending at the Cook House, 1670 Hudson, which is featured on the book’s cover. Tickets are $20 per person and include a signed copy of The Park Hill Neighborhood and reception. Visit www.historicdenver.org or call 303-534-5288 to reserve your spot. To pre-order and reserve your copy of The Park Hill Neighborhood visit www.historicdenver.org or call 303-534-5288 ext. 5. The books are also available for pre-order at Modern Bungalow, 2594 S. Colorado Blvd. Payment for pre-orders is taken upfront and the books will be shipped to the address provided in your order.

A Moment for Moms at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
MomTime provides an opportunity for mothers of young children to learn, grow and support each other through the challenges and joys of this season in life. Each session focuses on a topic related to parenting, balancing life’s many demands, taking care of yourself and contributing to our larger community and world. It is also a time for moms to just take a break and connect with other moms. Breakfast and childcare are provided. MomTime meets at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church on the first, third and fifth (if applicable) Fridays of each month from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Fall 2012 session begins September 7. Check out the MomTime blog for complete details, montviewmomtime.wordpress.com. For more information, contact Leah Oliver, leahcnoliver@yahoo.com, or Anna Clark Anna.A.Clark@gmail.com.

Center of Light’s 4th annual Inner Peace Festival
Hundreds of people turned out for the Center of Light’s Inner Peace Festival at Stapleton’s Central Park, and many of them chose to literally “stand for peace” as they took their place in the labyrinth peace circle. The day included various experiences of peace: from the writing of prayers for the city and the world, to enjoying meditative walks and drumming with African drummers. Children were kept busy with crafts, face painting, hula hoops and giant bubbles, while their parents received blessings and guided mediations. In addition to events like the Peace Festival, the Center of Light also offers free classes with topics like meditation, prayer and connecting with God. For more information, visit denver.centersoflight.org.

Julia Greeley Academy: Clayton’s Newest Private School
The Julia Greeley Academy opens this fall on the historic Clayton Campus at 3605 Martin Luther King Boulevard. The academy is a co-educational, K-5, Independent Christian School which aims to provide an affordable private education option to northeast Denver residents. The academic program is designed to be strong in math, science and technology, taught in a culturally relevant, faith-based environment. The academy gets its inspiration from Julia Greeley, a former slave who moved to Denver in 1870 and became a dedicated member of the Sacred Heart Church community, ministering to the indigent members of the Five Points neighborhood community for several decades. The annual tuition rate is $3,000. For more information, visit juliagreeleyacademy.org or call 303-355-8542.

Hands for Hope Day Seeking Projects, Volunteers
The 32-year-old affordable housing nonprofit Hands for Hope is seeking four projects in the northeast Denver area for their Hands for Hope Day on September 22. Projects must improve the community and can range from yardwork, painting, cleaning and/or repair. To nominate a project or to volunteer, contact jennifer@hopecommunities.org or call 303-860-7747.

Free Trees for the Fall Planting Season
The Park People’s Denver Digs Trees sale is scheduled for October 6. Applications for free and reduced-cost trees are due by September 1. Trees will be distributed locally at the City Park Greenhouse. For an application or more information on tree variety, visit theparkpeople.org or call 303-722-6262.

Park Hill Residents Participate in Iraqi Student Support Group
Park Hill residents Jeanne & Tom Powers and Jack & Pam Farrar have joined a local support group for the first member of the Iraqi Student Project to attend school in Colorado. Riyam Al-Karkokliy will arrive in mid-August, and she will attend Regis University on scholarship. The ISP began in 2007 as a grassroots, non-governmental organization designed to prepare qualified young Iraqis for undergraduate study in the United States in an effort to make a war reparation to the Iraqi people. The Powers and the Farrars will assist Al-Karkokliy by raising funds for her non-tuition expenses and get to know Denver. For more information, visit iraqistudentproject.org or call the Powers at 303-355-8603.