CBS4 health reporter Dr. Dave Hnida and copter pilot Mike Silva, both in their 50s, head to Iraq this weekend for duty. The station will run a tribute to them on today’s 10 p.m. newscast. This is Hnida’s second tour in Iraq and Silva’s first (but he served in Vietnam).
“I just want to melt off into the sunset, get it done and get back,” says Hnida. “Getting started, the waiting, it’s the worst part.”
Hnida, who’ll spend the summer in Iraq, is not scared as much as anxious about doing a good job. On this tour, he’s performing emergency care in a field hospital, trauma work he has only recently been trained for. Silva will be flying the wounded in to hospitals. That’s a long way from covering traffic on I-25 – but the KCNC-Channel 4 pair may run into each other.
Hnida laughs. “Here we are, two lugheads from Denver, traveling 7,000 miles, and there’s a pretty decent chance we’ll be crossing paths. I don’t know who has the tougher job. I think he does.”
Be safe, guys.
And they’re off!
Saturday’s Derby Party at the botanic gardens is the premier “there or square” event of the year.
The race-day rendezvous is a funder for the Sean “Ranch” Lough Foundation – and it ruled for six years at the Washington Park Boathouse.
The first year, about 150 people showed up. It grew and grew – until it was forced to move this year to the botanic gardens, where they expect more than 2,000 race fans.
The best thing about the move? They can serve mint juleps at the botanic gardens in the VIP area. Boathouse rules limited the party to beer and wine.
“It’s girls in big hats and sundresses, guys in seersucker,” says organizer Drake Harris. “Who can beat it?”
Tickets ($85-$250) sold out in eight hours – so you’re scratched for this race. All this good work comes from Scott Anderson, Terrance Hunt, Harris and others you can find at seanloughfoundation.com.
“We could probably sell 10,000 tickets to this party,” says Harris. “But it really feels like friends and family – and it’s unique that way.”
Am I blue?
Blue Man Group – those silent, scary, drum-beating, genderless, expressionless, egoless acrobats – is holding open auditions in Denver on May 14 at the DCPA’s Tramway Building.
Among qualifying specifications for men or women: Height between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 1 inch, solid drumming skills, excellent acting skills, willingness to relocate. Oh, and be willing to paint yourself blue.
More at bluemancasting.com.
City spirit
Two-time Senate hopeful Tom Strickland is on his way to Minnetonka, Minn., to lawyerize for UnitedHealth – so friends will gather May 22 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for a send-off. … LoDo Morton’s annual benefit wine tasting Monday night raised more than $50,000 for kids’ charities. Spotted: Walt DeHaven, Tommy Berry, Kevin Byerly, Billy Van Heusen, Fran Lynch, Rick Sapkin. … Don’t miss the mariachis 8:30-10:30 tonight and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday at Mezcal for Cinco de Mayo. … Sez who: “I don’t like money, but it quiets my nerves.” Joe E. Lewis
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at denverpostbloghouse.com/husted.
