Veteran Channel 7 reporter Bill Clarke blasted out an e-mail on Friday saying it’s time to hang up his Consumer Champ cap. On Oct. 13, “I’ll become ‘Bill Clarke, Civilian Retiree,”‘ he writes.
Clarke is a fixture in Denver’s media scene. He has covered entertainment, politics, business and consumer issues for Ch. 7 since 1985.
Clarke, off on his annual ragtop tour of California wine country, called me Monday from San Fran.
He says he pulled back to three days a week at Ch. 7 late last year – but they wanted more of him and wanted him earlier: five days a week at 5 a.m.
“Ch. 7 wants to put a harder face on consumer news, and that’s just not me,” he said. “And I just don’t have the fire to get up at 3:30 a.m. anymore.”
He will skip the “big shindig that usually comes when an ‘old timer’ … packs it in. Instead, donate money to Habitat for Humanity.”
But he leaves smiling. “Personally, I’ve seen some great places and had some rewarding adventures on the company’s – or at least someone else’s – dime!”
He plans on travel writing, doing some voice work, working in the community. “Denver’s been good to me,” he says.
A whole lotta Bill
Bill Clinton is due in town Monday for two gigs. First, he’ll deliver the keynote at the Aurora “A List” Luncheon at the Colorado Convention Center. More than 2,500 are expected.
Then he races up to Boulder to the home of Mary Alyce and Mike Driver for a Hillary for President funder. Co-chairs have to raise $25,000 for the cause, hosts have to raise $10,000, sponsors chip in $2,300 and guests crash the party for $500. Bold names on the invite include Marcia and Jim Lyons, Linda and Robert Alvarado, Steve Chotin, Mo Siegel, and Wilma and Wellington Webb.
Hooked up with Hinote
Word comes that Dan Hinote, who played for the Avs and dated legendary Broncos cheerleader Renee Herlocker, is engaged to Amy McCarthy, sister of legendary Playmate of the Year 1994 Jenny McCarthy.
They live in St. Louis, where he currently plays for the Blues.
Feed me
Denver is one of 20 cities to host the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Dinner on Sept. 28 at Panzano. The Colorado meal will get the star treatment from Frank Bonanno (Mizuna), Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro in Texas), Yasmin Lozada-Hissom (Duo), Alex Seidel (Fruition), Elise Wiggins (Panzano) and Bobby Stuckey (Frasca). Tix are $125; call 303-395-2677.
Sheila Lucero at Jax Denver hosts the fourth annual Female Chefs on Fire on Sept. 25 at Jax – with Amy Vitale (Tables), Rebecca Weitzman (Cafe Star), Mary Nguyen (Parallel 17), Rachel Woolcott (Aix), Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja), Wiggins (Panzano) and Kathleen Kenny Davia (Gateaux). Tix are $100; call 303-292-5767.
City spirit
Former Denver FBI agent Bob “Red” Nelson is on Court TV’s “Forensic Files” at 7 p.m. Wednesday – talking about the 1960 kidnapping and murder of Adolph Coors III … Sez who: “In baseball, you don’t know nothing.” Yogi Berra
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 at bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
