Overview:
The most recent episode of the Bucket List Community News radio show explores restoration, food access, grief, graduation and Denver history.
The May episode of the Bucket List Community News radio show on KGNU highlights the many ways communities across metro Denver are coming together to preserve spaces, support neighbors and build connection. Hosted by me, Bucket List editor Toni Tresca, the latest episode features stories ranging from the restoration of a beloved City Park landmark to conversations about grief, food access and local history.
The show opens with reporter PJ Guidry’s coverage of the March 26 fire that damaged City Park’s historic bandstand, a longtime centerpiece of the City Park Jazz concert series. Guidry explains how community members quickly mobilized to support restoration efforts and discusses why the structure means so much to generations of Denver residents.
From there, the episode shifts to Montbello, where reporter Linus Loughry examines ongoing food access challenges in the neighborhood and the efforts underway to address them through FreshLo, an upcoming nonprofit grocery store. The segment looks at how residents have navigated living in a food desert for years and how organizers with the Montbello Organizing Committee are working to create a more sustainable community-centered solution.
The show also explores a different kind of community space through reporter Brooklyn Miller’s visit to a local Death Cafe. These gatherings encourage people to openly discuss mortality, grief and end-of-life experiences in an informal setting. Miller reflects on the atmosphere of the event and shares stories from participants who describe how the conversations have helped them process loss and approach life with greater openness.
In the arts and culture portion of the program, reporter Fabian Dierks takes listeners inside the ongoing restoration of the historic Elitch Theatre. First opened in 1891, the theater spent decades abandoned after Elitch Gardens moved downtown before volunteers and preservation advocates began working to bring it back to life. Dierks details the theater’s long history, the community effort behind its restoration and the significance of this year’s 135th anniversary production of “The Pirates of Penzance.”
The episode closes with reflections on milestones. Reporter Khaleigh Reed talks about her graduation soon and the ups and downs of college life. Then journalist Ella Berry covers Denver South High School’s recent 100th anniversary celebration. Through conversations with alumni and current students, Berry captures how the event brought generations together while highlighting the school’s evolving identity and enduring traditions.
The next episode of the Bucket List Community News radio show airs Thursday, June 4, at 3 p.m. on KGNU. You can listen to all previous episodes by clicking here.
