A few inches of snow settled across the state last night, as if to quiet any stress that may have arisen from hosting, traveling to see family or entering what I consider the season of mixed feelings — when everything is gearing up and winding down at the same time. Amid all that, the snow feels like a cozy encouragement to just bundle up and chill this weekend. Maybe that’s why they call it a blanket.
If you want to get out and enjoy the wintery scenery, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering free entry to all 42 Colorado State Parks today. But first, get your hot bev ready. We’ve got some heartwarming stories today.
P.S. It’s holiday gift season! Share the gift of great Colorado Sun journalism for 20% off through Monday. Use the code BLACKFRIDAYGIFT at checkout. No wrapping required.
WATER
Fourth graders in Eagle County take on Colorado River water policy
Eagle County Charter Academy students Zoe Devins, left, and Charlotte Lott browse through a fresh edition of Vail Daily during the Breakfast with the News event Nov. 10 inside the school cafeteria in Edwards. The fourth graders took on the debate over future Colorado River policies in argumentative essays. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)
“It’s shared throughout the basin, throughout the seven states. I was like in my brain, ‘There’s like so many people in those states, and it’s just going to keep on growing. Because people have babies like every two days or three days.’”
— Hunter Kapala, age 10
At Eagle County Charter Academy in Edwards, two teachers found a way to combine key units of fourth grade curriculum, like Colorado history, civics and geography, into lessons about the Colorado River. The result was a handful of deep discussions, a stack of persuasive essays and a rap. “When it gets hotter, there’s less water …” Shannon Mulane has the takeaways, and the rest of the lyrics.
EDUCATION
These Colorado theater kids are learning improv, not to perform on a stage but to rehearse life skills
Program coordinator Michael Board II, center, leads exercises during a high school theater and improvisation class Nov. 9 at Vista Academy in Denver. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)
“You need humans to make theater. At its core, theater is the study of humanity and is about storytelling and making meaning.”
— Maya Osterman-Van Grack, executive director of programs for Mirror Image Arts
The nonprofit organization Mirror Image Arts is teaching theater classes to teens, but they’re not working toward a big year-end performance. They’re working on practical life skills. While the props might be as ordinary as a highlighter and a globe, the students are picking up important soft skills like trust, confidence and anger management. Erica Breunlin has more.
ENVIRONMENT
Colorado recycling rates have the holiday blues, but Chook and others are stemming the waste
Reusable containers are seen Nov. 14 at Chook Chicken in Denver, where the restaurant has started using reusable serviceware. A new study on Colorado’s poor recycling rates calls for more mandatory and voluntary reuse of recyclable goods. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)
500,000
The number of plastic bottles that a Breckenridge hotel kept out of the waste stream by switching to refillable shampoo containers
Starting in 2024, Colorado will be the first noncoastal state with a ban on both plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers. Some businesses, like the Chook Chicken chain in Denver, are getting a head start, and getting creative, with reducing their waste. Michael Booth has the story.
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How to drive in the Colorado snow in case you’re new to the state or just simply forgot. Hopefully this link isn’t too late for your morning commute.— Denver 7 More Denver Zoomers are living with their parents, while the number of millennials at home has dropped. The report states most millennials and Zoomers are living at home for health or financial reasons.
— Denverite Inside the violent threat against the Beatles’ only Colorado concert. A few days before The Beatles’ Aug. 26, 1964, show at Red Rocks, a letter from somebody signed “Beatle Hater” was discovered and threatened the Fab Four’s only Colorado concert. It’s an account tucked away in the FBI’s once-secret Beatles files.
— The Denver Post Colorado State basketball stuns top-10 Creighton in blowout win. CSU’s defense was superb throughout, holding one of the nation’s most prolific offenses to less than 50 points. “What a great win for our guys. I’m really proud of them,” CSU coach Niko Medved said.
— Fort Collins Coloradoan
— Jamie Van Leeuwen and Paul Lhevine
CARTOONS
Cartoonist Jim Morrissey figures the Colorado legislature’s special session to address property taxes produced a dish that tastes a lot like what was on the election menu.
In “What’d I Miss?” Ossie explains how the popular ’70s sitcom “Happy Days” served as a connection between him and a postal worker — but not in the way either anticipated.
The Broncos got off to an abysmal start, but cartoonist Drew Litton suggests that, as an improbable winning streak stretches on, maybe it’s time to believe in this team.
The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, suggest writers or provide feedback at [email protected].
Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a bit of Colorado history, headlines and a thoughtful conversation. We keep it tight so you can quickly listen, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. You can download the Sun-Up for free in your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts or RSS to plug into your app. This week, topics ranged from our series the High Cost of Colorado to Indigenous history at Winter Park:
How expensive is it to live in Colorado? Hopefully by now you’ve read a few of our stories in our High Cost of Colorado series. Hear how we came up with the project and what to expect.LISTEN Inflation has impacted the cost of eating out and at home in Colorado. From making dinner at home to $15 hamburgers at your favorite spot, food costs aren’t easy to stomach.
LISTEN What really went down during the Colorado legislative special season? Homeowners and renters are going to get some relief next year, and our politics team talks about how it came together.
LISTEN Winter Park gets lessons from Indigenous community. Lakota pro skier and activist Connor Ryan talks about ways to “decolonize” ski towns and the industry to make it equitable for everyone.
LISTEN No static at all. Time for another check-in with Colorado music man G Brown, this time about the early days of FM radio and what free-form station KFML and its DJs brought to the Denver area.
LISTEN
Also, remember to ask your favorite smart device to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll be on the speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at [email protected].
Let it snow.
— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun
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