DATA wins a two year reprieve

by Elisa Cohen | First Published in the North Denver Tribune |

WEST HIGHLANDS – Denver Arts and Technology Academy, a charter school located at 38th and Tennyson Street fought the recent school board decision to shut it down due to the board’s view that the school did not achieve at a sufficient level. By entering into negotiations with the school board, DATA agreed to oversight to ensure the reforms they have set in motion will translate into higher achievement. Read more

Blueprint Denver: Stability of use or of building materials?

By Elisa Cohen |

Read it for yourself. Go to DenverGov.org download the Blueprint Denver document and learn for yourself what the plan says and doesn’t say. At the recent R2 to R1 downzoning, the document was referred to as a biblical tome outlining the way. And just like the bible and its thousands of different followers with various takes on what is written, conflicting testimony flowed in the lengthy hearing. Does stability mean of use or of the type of building material used?

Does under 10 units per acre allow for the complete build out of R2 in North Denver in the areas of stability as one resident claimed? If this is the plan for Denver, it is time more residents read the plan and came to agreement on what it says and what it doesn’t say.

What do you think it means? Read the plan and make your comments. Like a bible study group, we ask that you quote page and chapter so that we may all read the same text.

Blueprint Denver

Plainsong: weaving together the lives of a bully, a pregnant teen, a teacher and two old men

By Elisa Cohen |

In the opening pages of Plainsong, a high school teacher sits with his principal arguing against the benefit of failure as an option versus demanding academic success from a mean spirited, morally bankrupt child from a bullying, well-to-do family. This tale of life on the high plains of Colorado east of Denver resonates with the lives lived and experienced both as students and staff at North High School. Read more

Remembering Timber Dick

By Elisa Cohen

First Published in The North Denver Tribune

With one heart, our community grieves the loss of Timber Dick, 52, a loving father, husband, son, brother and friend.

Our dear friend Timber suffered a terrible accident while driving back to Denver on March 29. One wheel of his minivan seized, sending the burning vehicle off I-70 and down a 300 foot embankment. Timber pulled himself from the fiery wreck, but he was already severely burnt. Good Samaritans Scott Boylan and Andrew Rosenberg witnessed the crash from a parallel highway and rushed to his aid.  They quickly extinguished the flames that engulfed Timber, but the burns covered 60 percent of his body and irreparably damaged his lungs.  When asked what we could do while Timber fought for his life in the hospital, one of Timber’s sons, Shiloh, said, “We are a family that is used to jumping into action, but at this time all we can do is pray.” Read more

Doubt Funny, Intense, Thoughtful, Topical, and Above All, Uncertain

By Craig Williamson

First Published in the North Denver Tribune

The same week that the Pope was visiting the United States and meeting with victims of clergy abuse, I attended the Denver Center’s production of John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt. It would be easy for this production to get sucked up in to the global controversy surrounding this issue, but it does not. This play looks at one individual situation in a catholic school, convincingly presents the perspectives of four characters, and steadfastly refuses to provide any answers, leaving doubt as the only real certainty. Read more