July 26 Newsletter
Hey, Bucket Listers! We are really proud of this week’s newsletter. Olivia Gryson’s featured story is about the slow rollout of composting in Denver and how neighbors are taking matters into their own hands. She produced a video for you, too! Ryland Scholes hosted our July podcast with a neighbor who visited all 3,143 counties in the U.S. and told us what he learned. Because you’ve asked for guest writers now and then, we feature Allie Blum with the story of the woman behind one of the last bodegas in the Baker neighborhood. We also have stories on Folsom Field memories and how to win prizes by taking a friend fishing. All in one week. All for you!
💸But it takes time and money to do this, and we need your help. We are completely community-supported. If you want to see this continue, we need your contributions during our Christmas in July fundraising campaign. Sorry we bug you so much, but community journalism takes a community, and we have less than a week left. Contribute today! Your gift will have double the impact because 10% of what you contribute until July 31 is going to Bienvenidos Food Bank to help them fight food insecurity. Your contribution is making a difference for us, Bienvenidos, and those in the community who are struggling to feed their families. Will you make a pledge?
🥫To better serve our community, Bucket List Community News publishes in English and some stories in Spanish, thanks to a generous grant from the Colorado Media Project. Last week, Daianee Galindo wrote a story about Bienvenidos Food Bank weathering the migrant crisis over the last year. Here is the Spanish translation of that story.
Donut Waste Food Scraps
🚮Denver started its municipal compost collection in 2008, but it’s been slow to catch up to the national average rate since then. Over the past several years, the city has taken steps to divert waste from our landfills—like making composting available to all single-family homes and requiring businesses and apartment buildings to provide the service. However, after rolling out the new “pay as you throw” program, Denver is having a hard time delivering bins to everyone in the city. Our Olivia Gryson spoke with some Denverites who’ve stepped up and taken on the responsibility of educating their neighbors on how the service works.
Going the Extra Mile
🧳For this month’s podcast, Ryland Scholes sat down with our neighbor Daniel Zimny-Schmitt, who recently completed his journey across all 3,143 counties in the U.S. He’s now the newest member of the Extra Miler Club, having explored every nook and cranny the country has to offer. He tells us about what sparked his adventure, where he ended up and how it’s changed his perspective on his fellow Americans.
Corner the Market
🥯This week’s guest article is from writer Allie Blum about Baker Market and Deli. As gentrification continues and chain stores move in, mom-and-pop shops have disappeared at an alarming rate. But bodegas and corner stores like Baker Market play an important community role in providing access to food, socialization and locally-made products. Allie tells us more about Baker Market’s history and its impact on the surrounding area. And thanks to Allie’s mom, Beth, for her $100 contribution to Bucket List Community News.
Showy Stadium
🏟️For the last 100 years, Folsom Field has been the beloved home of the CU Buffaloes football team. The stadium has been a crucial part of many college experiences, from orientation day through commencement. Now, after a 15-year hiatus, it may join the ranks among Colorado’s must-visit outdoor music venues as event organizers look to branch out into hosting summer concerts. Our Louison Leclercq spoke with attendees of one show this summer and alums who have fond memories of the stadium.
Fintastic Outdoors
🎣Each year, hunting and fishing licenses bring over $3.25 billion to the state economy, which supports small businesses, the tourism industry and conservation programs throughout Colorado. Now imagine if even more people picked these hobbies up. That’s exactly what Colorado Parks and Wildlife is aiming for with its annual Take a Friend Fishing contest, which encourages experienced anglers to take newbies out on the river. Our Aidan Sloan spoke with an event organizer and participant to get the lowdown on the rippling love for the sport.
Stuff We Noticed
🛒The City of Westminster announced Tuesday that Trader Joe’s has signed a lease to open a new store in Westminster City Center. The new location is expected to open late next year.
🚨The Denver Police Department announced Wednesday that it will partner with the Colorado State Patrol, Arvada police and Lakewood police to conduct a DUI checkpoint operation to reduce impaired driving and improve the metro area’s roadways. The exact date, time and locations are undisclosed. Make good choices this weekend (and always)!
🥇Get ready to see a lot of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. The opening ceremonies for the Paris Olympics is today (starting at 11:30 a.m. MT). Colorado sent 29 Olympians and Paralympians to the Games this year. If you want to see your favorite athlete you can check out the schedule and where to watch them here. Good luck Colorado Olympians!
Here are a few local events we want to make sure you know about this weekend: The country’s largest Dragon Boat Festival is July 27-28 at Sloan’s Lake. Watch the competition and immerse yourself in the incredible culture of our Asian American and Pacific Islander neighbors. One of the best deals in town is the Cleo Parker Robinson Mile High Dance Festival at Benedict Park. The 6 p.m. performance is free and features the incredible talent of her troupe. Finally, the Underground Music Showcase is going on this weekend on South Broadway. Our Sadie Gonzalez told you about their partnership with Youth on Record. The Showcase features amazing acts and helps support aspiring musicians.
That’s it for this week, Bucket Listers! We are running out of time in our Christmas in July fundraising campaign. We’ve learned many of you wait until the last minute to give. We work best with deadlines, too, but the deadline is here. Our campaign ends on July 31. Whatever you give, whether it’s $10 or $1,000, will be shared with Bienvenidos Food Bank. We need your support for community journalism and the fight against food insecurity. As always, make sure to share your ideas with Vicky and Madison. We’ll see you next week!
Warmest Regards,
Madison Lauterbach
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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