Connect with us

Denver, CO

Dozens of Windshields, Windows Smashed in Downtown Denver

Published

on

Dozens of Windshields, Windows Smashed in Downtown Denver


“It felt like someone disturbed. And it seems like it’s spreading,” one victim recounts.

Jerome Síbulo

When Jerome Síbulo left church choir rehearsal on a Wednesday night, he found his vehicle’s back windshield completely shattered.

Advertisement

The director of music and arts ministry had parked his car just outside of Trinity United Methodist Church, at Broadway and East 18th Avenue, when someone hurled a large rock into the glass on December 17. The rock was left sitting on the dashboard, Síbulo recalls. Nothing was stolen. There was no message or explanation for the crime.

It seemed almost random — except that the same thing has happened to twenty other cars belonging to church members since November, according to reports to church staff. And they’re not the only victims.

The Denver Police Department received 22 reports of broken vehicle windshields and twelve reports of broken building windows near Broadway from December 1 through January 7. Repeat incidents have occurred between 17th Street and Blake Street, covering a mile-long stretch of the boulevard.

“I work at the church part-time and I have other jobs, so I basically live in my car. Having my car broken into felt very violating,” Síbulo says. “But it didn’t feel like the harm was directed at the church members.

“It felt like someone disturbed. And it seems like it’s spreading.”

Advertisement
Jerome Síbulo’s vehicle was vandalized on December 17.

Police say the string of vandalism incidents began a couple of months ago, and they believe there are even more cases than they know about.

“DPD continues to investigate these incidents, including whether or not they are connected,” says the Denver Police in a statement. “We do not believe all the incidents have been reported to police and encourage anyone who has been victimized to report it. The more information investigators have, the more helpful it would be for the investigations.”

Emily Shupak says her car was attacked on January 3, while parked near the Brown Palace Hotel at Broadway and 17th Street. She was gone for no more than an hour between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. when someone shattered her back windshield, not stealing anything from the vehicle.

She claims the same thing happened to her partner’s car on December 26.

“It’s super frustrating,” Shupak says. “It’s happening to a lot of people, so it’s not just a prank. …It sucks for all these people who’ve been impacted, not just me or him.”

Advertisement

Shupak had to pay $510 to replace the windshield. “I’m a social worker, I don’t make much money,” she adds. Síbulo paid $486 to have his vehicle repaired.

Shupak says some witnesses told her that e-scooter-riding teenagers were responsible for the vandalism, while others claimed it was a homeless individual. Police are not releasing any suspect information at this time.

Such acts of vandalism are not typically common within the community, says Paul Smith, chair of the board of trustees of Trinity United Methodist Church.

“We’re in a neighborhood with a lot of unhoused people, and I don’t think this is characteristic of our experience with our neighbors there,” Smith says. “A lot of those people are very respectful of the church. Some of them are actually proactive in looking after the church, cleaning up trash and so forth.”

But beyond the broken windshields of church members, the building itself has recently been targeted.

Advertisement

Someone attacked the church’s stained glass windows on January 4 and January 7, Smith says. In one case, the vandal managed to break through the protective barrier and damage 140-year-old glass behind it. Smith estimates the repairs will cost upwards of $8,000.

The windows of Trinity United Methodist Church were broken on January 4 and 7.

“It takes a lot to break that glass,” Smith says. “Somebody really spent a lot of time hammering away on a couple of those windows. It wasn’t just throwing a rock and breaking it. The [protective] glass is very tough and very durable, but somebody really went to work on it.”

The church is in the process of installing security cameras, he adds.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Denver Police Department or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.

Advertisement



Source link

Denver, CO

Colorado boasts two of the best coffee shops in the Americas, according to new ranking

Published

on

Colorado boasts two of the best coffee shops in the Americas, according to new ranking


Denverites looking for a stellar cup of Joe don’t need to travel far to savor the flavor of excellent coffee.

That’s according to The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, a website that rates global hospitality establishments where coffee lovers can find better brew. The website recently announced its 2026 list of the best coffee shops in North America, Central America and the Caribbean and two local companies made the list.

Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters came in at No. 43, while Queen City Collective Coffee ranked No. 61. Not bad for a list that includes must-hit destinations in places like Guatemala and Costa Rica, which are known for their exports of coffee beans.

The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops decided the ranking through a mix of nominations and voting by both the public and experts. Places were evaluated based on the quality of coffee served, barista expertise, ambiance, sustainability practices, and innovation among other criteria, according to the website.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Denver beekeeper says swarm season came a month early this year thanks to warm weather

Published

on

Denver beekeeper says swarm season came a month early this year thanks to warm weather


DENVER (KDVR) — With the mild winter and warm start to spring, beekeepers are seeing swarms earlier in the year and expect the season to be longer than usual.

Gregg McMahan is a dispatcher for the Colorado Swarm Hotline. It’s usually his job to send a beekeeper to collect a swarm when someone calls, but on Sunday afternoon, he decided to handle one himself.

“Nice little swarm,” McMahan said. “It’s tricky, though, because it’s hanging on a fence.”

A warm winter and spring mean swarm season has begun four weeks early.

Advertisement

“Never seen it like this ever,” McMahan said.

This call is to a house on Denver’s east side. When McMahan arrived, he saw a swarm had taken up residence on the fence.

“Absolutely typical, it is on the small side,” McMahan said.

He got to work, first luring them into a box when he spotted a good sign.

“See all these girls, they got their butts up, they’re fanning their wings. That’s telling us the queens in here,” McMahan said.

Advertisement

With the queen in hand, the rest began to follow her into the box.

McMahan said two years ago, he had 400 calls like this. Last year, only 100, the Swarm Hotline was as unpredictable as the weather, which has caused bee activity earlier in the year than ever.

“It makes it hard on the bees, you know? Two days ago, I’m collecting swarms in the snow,” McMahan said.

Rescuing them is integral to Colorado’s ecosystem. McMahan hopes people give a beekeeper a call instead of spraying them or harming them in any other way.

“They do a phenomenal amount of pollination within this state. Not only our native flowers but all the other flowers that people bring in,” McMahan said.

Advertisement

Slowly but surely, the swarm left the fence and moved into the box. McMahan loaded them into his truck to deliver them to their new home.

“Westminster to the Stanley Lake Wildlife Refuge, so these girls will have lakefront property tonight,” he said.

As he wrapped up, McMahan’s phone was buzzing more than the bees. Just another call to start a swarm season, he thinks, could be a long one.

“This year I’m already 20 swarms deep, so I’m expecting way more than 100 this year,” McMahan said.

To have a bee swarm removed for free from your property anywhere statewide, the Swarm Hotline number is 1-844-SPY-BEES.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Denver Nuggets Altitude broadcasts now being offered in Spanish for first time ever

Published

on

Denver Nuggets Altitude broadcasts now being offered in Spanish for first time ever


For the first time in the team’s history, Altitude Sports is broadcasting Denver Nuggets home games in Spanish. Kroenke Sports and Entertainment announced it has contracted a team to broadcast its games in Spanish for the playoffs.

“I think that is what the public wanted,” said Ivan De La Garza, producer for the broadcast team.

A team of three people, two commentators and a producer, sit in a press box at the top of Ball Arena. Their commentary is then synced with the traditional Altitude broadcast video and shared on the Altitude Plus application.

Advertisement

CBS


“With the Nuggets winning in the last five years, there is a tremendous amount of following from Latino people trying to listen to and watch the games in Spanish,” said Andres Casas, color commentator for the broadcast.

Casas said he strives to bring the same energy fans get during soccer broadcasts into the basketball broadcasts.

“That excitement that gets you. We want people to feel they are at the game,” Casas said.

Advertisement

“It has been so amazing to be a part of the Spanish broadcast for the Nuggets. I have been a fan of the Nuggets for my whole life,” said Jena Garcia, play-by-play commentator.

Garcia said it has been a dream come true to help bring this broadcast to her community.

“I’ve always desired to hear a Spanish broadcast, just as a fan. To be a part of it is just incredible,” Garcia said.

Those working in the broadcast said they are honored to help expand the reach of the Nuggets and sports in accessing diverse communities.

nuggets-spanish-broadcast-10pkg-frame-1176.jpg

Advertisement

CBS


“We love sports. We are passionate, we are loud. We like to get together and enjoy sports,” De La Garza said.

“The Nuggets have a huge following, especially on the Spanish side. So, it is great for them to be able to listen to what is going on, game by game, especially into the playoffs,” Casas said.

“It is just another step of access that they are getting to be a fan of basketball,” Garcia said.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending