Hey, Bucket Listers! Thanks to everyone who helped us exceed our fundraising goal. We raised $5,373 for Bucket List and community journalism. For those who contributed during the last week of our campaign, we raised $50 for Bienvenidos food bank which makes it possible for them to give away $450 worth of food to our neighbors. You doubled your impact! We are so grateful for your gifts, particularly those recurring monthly contributions. We can’t do this work without you.
Join Us at an Event
As part of our Voter Voices initiative, we want to invite you to a screening of the film “Undivide Us” at the Buell Public Media Center at 2101 Arapahoe St. on Aug. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests from numerous media outlets will view the film, and then we’ll discuss ways to better listen to one another this election season. Be our guest and help us cut through the noise.
Let’s Talk About Sex (and Gender)
🙏Specifically over the last decade, lawmakers at every level of government have been legislating everything from gender-affirming medical care to sex education in public schools. But Littleton-based Catholic psychologist Julia Sadusky has set out to eradicate harmful ideology from faith-based spaces. Our Kay Altshuler spoke with Sadusky about why she does it and the challenges she’s faced along the way.
Theater of the Mind
⚔️Alternatives to traditional talk therapy are all the rage these days as people turn their attention to self-care apps and psychedelic-assisted, dance and art therapies. Recently, those in the field have started using a tabletop game invented in the ‘70s to resolve mental health issues: Dungeons & Dragons. Our Ryland Scholes spoke with Evan Forster of Moving Mountains Counseling Center about how the game has helped a group of teens in his care.
Green Lands
🌳The Globeville Elyria-Swansea neighborhood has a long history of being the most polluted area of Denver. However, several community organizations are making it their goal to buy up parcels of land in the area to convert into green spaces and food forests. Our Daianee Galindo spoke with one of the leaders of Tierras Verdes, a group of five women who take care of a 10,000-square-foot area in the neighborhood and are transforming it into a community space.
Not Your Grandma’s Knitting Club
🧶Knitting is largely viewed as an activity done by older folks—mostly women—while watching TV. Studies have actually shown that 45 million people in the U.S. know how to knit or crochet, reaching across age, gender and race. One Denver yarn store, The Tangled Ball, is hoping to encourage more men to learn the hobby by hosting a twice-a-month group called Dicks with Sticks. In her second story this week, our Kay Altshuler went down to the shop to chat with members who’ve formed a tight-knit community.
Tale of Two Cities
🎭Chicago’s The Second City comedy troupe is performing in town until Aug. 11 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The six-person cast brings live music and exceptional comedic timing to the Mile High City, according to Bucket List’s new editor Toni Tresca. The run is an exchange of sorts, as Boulder-born cast member Cassidy Russell is back in her home state while fellow comedian Zelda Sidener is kicking off their career in the Windy City at the troupe’s home club.
Stuff We Noticed
🐟We don’t need to tell you this summer has been hot and dry. Those high temperatures can be deadly for our wonderful wildlife. Last weekend, at least 2,000 carp and crappies died in Sloan’s Lake after the near-100-degree days created a toxic algae bloom, sucking the oxygen out of the water. Colorado anglers may remember the fishing closures on rivers across the state in 2022, as the hot air and high water temps put stress on fish.
⛽️Denver City Councilmembers Diana Romero Campbell, Amanda Sawyer and Paul Kashmann have proposed updating the city’s land use policy regarding gas station development. The plan would prioritize “thoughtful placement” of future gas stations to address the housing crisis and create a more walkable city. The council members are looking for public feedback regarding the proposal throughout August and September. For more information visit the project’s website.
🌯Artist collective Meow Wolf and fast-casual Mexican restaurant Illegal Pete’s have partnered to create a tie-dye tortilla they’re calling the Portilla. Colorado Tortilla makes the swirling teal, yellow, purple and pink flatbreads using natural dyes made from fruits and vegetables. They’ll be available at all Illegal Pete’s locations throughout the month of August.
👋As I head off on my next adventure, I want to say a huge thank you to the Bucket List community for all the support you’ve shown for the publication. It’s been an absolute pleasure working as editor for the last year and a half alongside Vicky, Logan and the ever-changing team of knockout reporters and journalism entrepreneurs. It’s been an honor teaching the next generation of journalists the craft and watching them grow as writers. I’ve found a new love for the city I’ve called home since birth through the stories we’ve published and learned things about my neighbors I never would have otherwise. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to help shape the future of the industry. You as a reader can do so as well! Community support is paramount for the survival of publications like Bucket List. Please consider making a contribution so Bucket List can continue doing great work. Look out for an update on my next phase of life, I’m sure there will be a story 😉 Ta-ta for now!
Warmest Regards,
Madison Lauterbach
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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