Distributed to the Stapleton, Park Hill, Lowry, Montclair, Mayfair, Hale and East Colfax neighborhoods DENVER, COLORADO DECEMBER 2013 Winter Welcome Kicks Off the Holiday Season Nearly 3,000 people gathered in the 29th Ave. Town Center for the 2013 Winter Welcome, a Staple- Greenway. New to Winter Welcome this year: the MCA closed 29th Avenue from Quebec to Roslyn ton holiday tradition. This year the Girl Scouts made 1,000 s’mores and all but 30 were eaten. Pro- to have more room for the festivities, and a reindeer and a snowboard simulator were added. ceeds from the event will go to The Urban Farm, Bluff Lake Nature Center and Sand Creek Regional Look on page 35 for another perspective on the holidays—the carbon footprint. Check out our new interactive Stapleton Reacts to Elementary Boundary Changes website and comment on articles. www.FrontPorchStapleton.com By Carol Roberts n the rest of DPS, and in most public school districts across the country, school Guide to Kids’ Sports I In January the Front Porch will print a attendance is established by directory of NE Denver sports teams boundaries. The location of a for kids. Parents and coaches please person’s home determines their send name of sport, name of assigned neighborhood school. league and contact information to However, from the time [email protected]. Stapleton opened its second If known, please also elementary school, a different include ages, whether kind of system was established— boys, girls or both, one that allows everyone in the seasons, and a contact community to select from all the person who could pro- schools. That system was chosen vide additional informa- based on a community prefer- tion. The guide will also ence at that time. In return for include teams in other areas having a variety of programmatic for sports that are not offered locally. options, residents give up the cer- tainty that comes with boundary schools. Camp Guide in Feb. Issue Now, as the empty lots Summer camp registration starts early so Sarah Lippa speaks at a November 19 meeting at Bill Roberts school where a quorum of board members (Taylor, the camp guide will be moved to February Rowe, Seawell, Haynes) came to hear community members speak. Open choice versus priority for proximity became dotting the neighborhoods a hot issue after DPS proposed a priority zone system for elementary boundaries. The majority of speakers favored have filled with homes and new starting this year. Send camp suggestions to Stapleton’s established tradition of choice, whereby everyone in Stapleton has equal access to all elementary schools. families, some who have moved [email protected]. Some speakers, however, favored a system that would give preference to those living near a school. (continued on p. 4) Printed with soy-based ink. Paper contains 40% postconsumer waste. Like us at Front Porch Groundwater A Reimagined HOA Bans Guide to New Apts. Farmyard Newspaper for updates Lawsuit City Park Middle Schools for Ages 55+ on local news and events. 6 10 Animals13 15 30 ! Each year the Menorah at the far east end of The Green along Syracuse is EEvvennnts & lit for the eight nights of Chanukah, November 27 to December 5 this year. AAnnnnoooununccemenemmmenentstss att SStapletlettton The MCA would like to wish each unknown to fortune seekers who and every one of you a very merry raced to the Gold Rush. We’ll also holiday season. We have many gifts to include the often brutal elements of buy and so many parties to attend. what was known then as Manifest When making your lists and plans, Destiny, including conflicts with remember those who are alone in this Native Americans and Spanish world. Bring joy to them with an act Mexico, all of which added of kindness. We hope you are able to significant territory to the U.S. This enjoy a safe and wonderful holiday program is sponsored by Juniper CALENDAR season with family and friends. Village at Aurora. Date: Thursday, Dec. 12 Events listed below are FREE and open to the public or support nonprofits. WOW: Wine on Wednesday Wine Tastings Time: 7–8pm (Additional events are listed on pages 24-27. Recurring events are listed on page 26.) The MCA and the Wine Cellars at Cost: Free Stapleton have paired up to host Location: MCA Community Rm. another series of WOW (Wine on (2823 Roslyn St.) DECEMBER DECEMBER Wednesday)! The next indoor wine For more information, tasting will be held at 6pm on visit www.activeminds.com. Wednesday, Dec. 4 in the MCA Wednesday, December 4 Thursday, December 12 Wine on Wednesdays. *MCA Community Room. Active Minds Seminar “The American West” Community Room. This evening Modern Conversations For more info or to register visit 7–8pm *MCA Community Room educational tasting will feature artisan Lessons in MINDFULLNESS to get www.stapletoncommunity.com [email protected] tapas and a variety of wines. you Through the Holidays Friday, December 6 Thurs, Dec 12 to Sat, Dec 14 Registration is only $10 per person! Do you get stressed out? Does your Winter Movie - “Elf” 6pm. *The Green Denver Public Library Winter Used Book Sale For more information or to register family drive you crazy? Do you [email protected] Central Library, 14th and Broadway for the next tasting, visit overindulge in food, drink or www.dplfriends.org www.stapletoncommunity.com. spending? Come enjoy a brief lesson Friday, December 6 in mindfulness that will help you Holly Days on 16th Street Mall. 11am-7pm. Saturday, December 14 Winter Movie o n The Green and Our Repeats 12/7 and 12/8. McNichols Building, Kidpreneurs Marketplace at Clayton Early manage all of these difficult life Civic Center Park. www.coloradoevents.net Learning Center, 10am - 2pm (See page 6) Inaugural Christkindlmarkt challenges. Bundle up and join us for our first Date: Wednesday, Dec. 18 Friday Dec 6 & Saturday Dec 7 Winter Movie on The Green. We will Park Hill Arts Weekend. For more information Monday, December 16 Time: 7–8:30pm contact the Art Garage at 303-377-2353, DPS Choice website opens be featuring the holiday favorite Elf! Cost: Free artgaragedenver.com (See page 6) (see p. 15 for info about middle schools The movie will begin at 6pm on and p. 18 for enrollment info) RSVP: [email protected] or call Friday, Dec. 6 and is free to attend. 720.935.7393 Friday Dec 6 & Saturday Dec 7 The MCA will be providing fire pits 9News Parade of Lights. 8pm Fri, 6pm Sat. Tuesday, December 17* Marching bands, balloons, floats. High School Principal Learning Walk & Community and s’more stations, along with hot Stapleton Holiday Cards www.downtowndenver.com Forum. Meet the top candidates for the Stapleton beverages. Gigi’s Cupcakes, Coaches The MCA will be offering festive High School principal. Location TBD, 5:30 - 8pm Scoop, Crock Spot and Funnels are holiday cards to support three local *Subject to change, pending confirmation of finalists. Saturday, December 7 planning to bring their food trucks to organizations. Cards can be Free or 1¢ on first Saturdays at: Updates at http://communityrelations.dpsk12.org/ –Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver the event, so remember to bring some purchased at the MCA office during –Museum of Contemporary Art (with art-making Wednesday, December 18 extra cash. normal business hours (Mon-Fri, space for children) 1¢ admission 1485 Delgany St. Modern Conversations— “Lessons in Mindfull-ness The inaugural Christkindlmarkt 9am-4pm). All proceeds will be to Get You Through the Holidays” will begin at 5pm on Friday, Dec. 6 distributed to the Bluff Lake Nature Monday, December 9 7-8:30pm. *MCA Community Room. (See page 9) Stapleton Community Meeting on Elementary on The Green. The market will Center, Sand Creek Regional Enrollment, Swigert, 6:00pm. (See page 1) Thursday, December 19 feature handmade holiday gifts by Greenway and The Urban Farm. Angie Swim [email protected] Public comment to DPS Board on Stapleton elemen- local artists and craftspeople, tary enrollment, 6:30pm. Register for comments by traditional German holiday Santa’s Best Christmas Trees Monday, December 9 5pm 12/18 at 720-423-3210. Board vote after public We are excited to welcome Santa’s comment. refreshments, a prize drawing and Denver Museum of Nature and Science - SCFD Best Christmas Trees back to the Free Day 303-322-7009 www.dmns.org festive entertainment. For more information about the market, visit Stapleton community. Trees will be Tuesday, December 10 www.stapletonchristkindlmarkt.splas sold at The Green (29th Ave and Colorado Gives Day JANUARY Roslyn St.), now open through the For 24 hours starting at 12am, visit hthat.com. www.cogivesday.org to find Colorado Charities. December 31 to January 11 holiday season. Last year, the website raised $7.4 million. “Treecycle.” Set out your tree on your trash collec- Active Minds tion day. Real evergreens only, with no decorations. DenverGov.org/DenverRecycles or call 311. The American West If you have any questions about the CORRECTIONS: Join Active Minds for an exploration information above, please call Announcement of Kristen Atwood as of how the West was opened and 303.388.0724. principal of the new Stapleton middle school (page 7 of the September issue)—The won. We’ll tell the story from a photo caption referred to “the new McAuliffe *More information at [email protected] variety of perspectives—from early Dani Mead middle school.” It should have stated, “the new The Green is located in the 29th Ave. Town Center in middle school that will be located where McAuliffe Stapleton at E. 29th Ave. and Rosyln St. explorers who ventured into the [email protected] now resides.” The McAuliffe IB program is moving Stapleton MCA Community Room, 2823 Roslyn St.